Sheffield United’s hopes of acquiring Shea Charles on loan from Southampton this window would be bolstered if the Saints secure a deal of their own. This could potentially harm the hopes of city rivals Wednesday to secure a Hillsborough return for the young midfield player, who has shown promise in S6 this season but has been called up by the Premier League strugglers.
Lesley Ugochukwu, who joined the Saints on loan from Chelsea in the summer, will determine Charles’ destiny, as we just learnt. Sources with knowledge of the matter have told The Star that he is expected to remain on the south coast for the rest of the season, despite rumours that the Londoners would recall him this month, potentially leaving the Saints short.
And now that the Saints have acquired Denmark international Albert Gronbaek from Rennes, Charles has been demoted even lower at St. Mary’s. Gronbaek joined Southampton on a temporary loan with the possibility of a permanent deal in the summer, while Ivan Juric’s team has also been connected to another midfield player at the French club, former Blades target Glen Kamara.
After Oliver Arblaster suffered a season-ending ACL injury against Charles and Wednesday in the season’s opening Steel City derby back in November, the Blades are looking for a midfielder with the kind of profile that Charles possesses. Tomorrow night at Hillsborough, he will play his farewell game for the Owls against Bristol City before heading back to St. Mary’s to await a decision on his future.
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