Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Wed 15 April 2026 13:45, UK

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Nottingham Forest are among the clubs interested in making a move for Southampton youngster Shea Charles this summer.

The midfielder has attracted huge acclaim in recent months, especially after netting the winner against Premier League leaders Arsenal in the FA Cup earlier this month.

He was in fine form on Tuesday, too, as Southampton continued their staggering run of form by beating Blackburn Rovers 3-0.

Cyle Larin opened the scoring before Ryan Manning and Cameron Archer netted to make it 15 wins from 18 games across all competitions for the Saints.

Nottingham Forest transfer chiefs have been paying close attention to Charles, with Tuesday’s performance bound to have excited them further.

Shea Charles superb vs Blackburn Rovers

Football Insider exclusively revealed last week that Nottingham Forest are interested in Charles, along with several other Premier League sides.

Southampton hope to keep the 22-year-old, who they signed from Manchester City in 2023, but will struggle to resist the interest if they miss out on promotion this season.

Charles’ contract is due to expire in 2027, with a decision needing to be made this summer.

The midfielder was in superb form on Tuesday, showing every one of the qualities that have made his game so desirable for potential suitors.

The Northern Ireland international completed 12 passes into the final third, three tackles and an extraordinary 10 recoveries in the game.

He also two free kicks and lost just one of the duels he contested, winning 86 per cent on the ground.

Since returning from a hamstring injury in January, Charles has come along in leaps and bounds, and could now be set for the next step in his career.

Automatic promotion is not off the table for Southampton yet, however, and Tonda Eckert will hope that a staggering run to second place will inspire the 22-year-old to commit his future at St Mary’s Stadium.

What Charles has said on his future

Several more clubs are expected to join Nottingham Forest in their interest of Charles this summer, but the midfielder will not want to rush into any decision.

At just 22, he has his career ahead of him, and having already left Man City, he is clearly not afraid to make big decisions.

“It’s background noise for me, really,” he said in April, when asked about his contract situation. “I’ve got my contract here, and at the moment, I’m really just pushing to get promoted this season.

“I’m quite a laid-back guy. I don’t really think too much about stuff.”

There will be a time to think about it, but it appears that Charles is happy to focus on his football, for now.