£100m Man City signing can impact Shea Charles Premier League transfer

Nottingham star Elliot Anderson’s Man City links fuel Forest’s interest in acquiring Shea Charles as his possible replacement.

The Shea Charles transfer saga has been the most talked-about topic around St. Mary’s recently. Following the midfielder’s EA FC recognition, his transfer demand has skyrocketed despite not starting every Southampton match.

Charles played only around 15 minutes against Derby as part of Tonda Eckert’s game‑time management. Yet, despite his regulated participation, more and more Premier League clubs are willing to reward him with a move for his season‑long heroics.

Previously, Premier League sides, Man United and Everton, had shown interest in Charles. Now, Nottingham Forest have become the latest participants in the midfielder’s transfer race.

Saints Talk confirmed the news, quoting: “Nottingham Forest are the newest side to be chasing ‘highly sought-after’ Southampton midfielder Shea Charles.”

Elliot Anderson’s links attract Nottingham’s Shea Charles interest

There’s no doubt that Charles’s brilliant performances for Southampton have influenced Nottingham Forest’s interest. Forest would aim to rise back up the Premier League hierarchy with Charles’s signing.

However, everything points to Elliot Anderson’s transfer links being a major catalyst in igniting the club’s interest in Charles.

Notably, Anderson’s consistent performances in midfield haven’t gone unnoticed in Nottingham Forest’s otherwise underwhelming season. His late equaliser against Manchester City last month has even attracted the Cityzens as a potential suitor.

Florian Plettenberg provided an update on the interest: “Forest expect Elliot Anderson to join either Manchester United or Manchester City if he leaves this summer. So far, no club has made direct contact with Forest. A fee in the region of £100-120m is being demanded.”

Although a deal for Anderson is far from secured, Nottingham may be lining up their plan for Charles as a replacement already. While the transfer report hails Man United and Man City both as potential suitors, Shea Charles’ ex-club Man City lead the race for Anderson.

Shea Charles’ Man City roots

Though Saints fans are now witnessing Shea Charles’s rise at the senior level, the club showed foresight in recognising his talent. The reason they spent £10.5m on him at 18 was his Manchester City pedigree.

Shea Charles is a homegrown City talent. Having risen through the ranks at the Etihad, he played extensive youth Premier League football and featured in cup games at junior level.

Charles also made his senior debut before leaving City. Coming on as a substitute against Brentford on the final day of the 2022/23 season, he became a Premier League winner with Manchester City.

After leaving the Cityzens in the summer of 2023, he joined Southampton for their Championship campaign. Now, after three seasons in the second division, Charles feels ready to return to the Premier League this summer.

Charles could replace Man City’s blockbuster signing

Tying back Elliot Anderson’s transfer links and Nottingham Forest’s interest in Shea Charles, a possible scenario could see the latter replacing Man City’s blockbuster £100m signing. Although Charles isn’t getting a Big Six move himself, the possibility is poetic.

The Saints prodigy might not have thought of going up against City during his days at the club. Now, it’s a genuine possibility that he ends up replacing their new signing, Elliot Anderson, at Nottingham Forest.

Facing his former club could be a first for Charles in the Premier League, but he won’t be the first Saint to do so. Gareth Bale, Sadio Mané, Virgil van Dijk, and many others have come up against Southampton itself, and it will be a similar feeling for Charles against City.

What matters for Shea Charles is making his Nottingham move count. If he replaces Elliot Anderson at Forest, the 22‑year‑old will need to step up, just as ex‑Saint Mateus Fernandes did at West Ham.

Despite West Ham’s dismal season, Fernandes has emerged as the club’s biggest positive. Shea Charles could face similar expectations, as he is touted to fill the role of Nottingham Forest’s best player in an otherwise underwhelming campaign.