Nottingham Forest have just received major boost for Shea Charles deal after latest Southampton evidence

Nottingham Forest have surely just seen the door open for them to sign Southampton midfielder Shea Charles this summer.

The midfielder has been an impressive performer for the Saints in recent weeks, as he has helped to turn their season on its head and put them in contention for promotion.

He also played a key role in the South Coast outfit’s run to the semi-finals of the FA Cup, and his performances have seen him emerge on the radar at the City Ground ahead of the summer transfer window.

The 22-year-old has been identified as a player who could have a huge future ahead of him at Premier League level, and the Reds are keen to ensure that they win the race for his signature in the coming months.

Forest’s transfer plans are set to see them bolster their squad dramatically if they secure survival at the end of the campaign, and their hopes of landing Charles have just been given a major boost.

Shea Charles exit on the cards as Southampton miss out on promotion

Charles has racked up 20 starts for Southampton in the Championship so far this season, after he impressed greatly during a loan spell with Sheffield Wednesday last term.

The former Manchester City academy graduate has been building an increasingly big reputation for himself at St Mary’s of late, and that has caught Forest’s attention ahead of the window.

Vitor Pereira’s side are one of several Premier League clubs that are chasing the Northern Ireland international, and the door now appears open for them to move for Charles, with Southampton now unable to secure automatic promotion.

Their 2-2 draw at home against Ipswich Town on Tuesday night consigned them to the play-offs, which are notoriously unpredictable at Championship level.

Southampton will fancy their chances of keeping hold of Charles if they go up, but if not, the lure of the Premier League may prove too much for the player to resist.

The Saints’ best chance of getting over the line was through the automatic spots, and with that now off the table, Forest surely have renewed hope of a deal.

Nottingham Forest may be set for Shea Charles bidding war

Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown recently told Football Insider that Forest could end up in a bidding war for Charles this summer, with Crystal Palace also now chasing a deal for him.

The former recruitment chief suggested that Southampton will likely play the two clubs’ interest off against each other if they are backed into a corner, which in turn would drive Charles’ price up.

Brown suggested that he has previously seen players’ prices double when multiple teams are chasing the same man, as the selling club can play hardball with their asking price.

With that in mind, Forest will have to be willing to pay a reasonable fee for Charles this summer, as it seems unlikely that he will come cheaply given the level of interest that has built up.

The post Nottingham Forest have just received major boost for Shea Charles deal after latest Southampton evidence appeared first on Football Insider.