Russell Martin could sanction a temporary exit for a Southampton midfielder after the arrivals of both Lesley Ogochukwu and Mateus Fernandes in the past week.
Sport Republic have provided Russell Martin with 11 first-team signings this summer as Southampton aim to ensure their return to the Premier League is not a short one.
The £15 million fee for attacking midfielder Mateus Fernandes is the third highest the club have spent this summer, with the top two reserved for players that spent last season on loan at the Saints in Flynn Downes (£18m) and Taylor Harwood-Bellis (£20m).
In order to bankroll these signings, Southampton have been looking to sell Armel Bella-Kotchap and Paul Onuachu, whilst the club could also sell Carlos Alcaraz if a suitable offer comes in.
- READ MORE: Mateus Fernandes arrival could now push ‘fantastic’ Southampton player closer to the exit door
With the influx of signings, some players are going to find minutes very hard to come by this season and it appears one such player could be set to spend the 2024/25 season on loan in the Championship.
Sheffield Wednesday ‘interested’ in loan for Southampton midfielder Shea Charles
Shea Charles was signed from Manchester City following Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League last summer.
A highly-rated young talent, Charles’ versatility made him particularly attractive and Southampton decided to strike a deal with City that could rise up to £15 million.
With Downes the first choice in his favoured holding midfield role, Lesley Ogochukwu coming in and Martin never really trusting him last season, Charles could be allowed to leave on loan to get invaluable experience under his belt.
That could be at Championship club Sheffield Wednesday, with The Star journalist Joe Crann posting on X: “Understand that Sheffield Wednesday are interested in Southampton midfielder, Shea Charles, and are looking into trying to get a deal done before the transfer window closes.”
Charles could benefit from linking up with former Southampton coach Danny Rohl
If this deal were to happen, it would see 20-year-old Charles work with former Southampton coach Danny Rohl.
The German acted as assistant to Ralph Hasenhuttl for eight months in the 2018/19 season before joining up with Hansi Flick at Bayern Munich and then following him to coach the German national team.
Rohl was appointed as Sheffield Wednesday manager after the Owls suffered an awful start to life in the Championship before pulling off a miraculous escape from relegation in his first role as a manager.
Wednesday play good football at a high-tempo and Charles could really benefit from a year under the tutelage of a progressive young coach in Rohl.
Despite being just 20, the midfielder already has 17 caps for Northern Ireland and international team-mate Paddy McNair has backed Charles to play at the “highest-level”, saying: “I think Shea is a brilliant player, I think he can play at the highest level.
“When he came in under Ian Baraclough, you could see the ability he had, and in every game he plays, he performs really well.
“He has that composure about him and he makes the game look easy.”
Southampton believe Charles has a bright future at the club, but a loan move could be vital in his development ready to return to St Mary’s next summer.