Leeds United and Rangers now have the same owners: the 49ers. Two massive clubs in their own right, they now seem to be battling to sign the same player.
Both clubs have huge summers ahead. Leeds United have been promoted to the Premier League and need a monumental summer transfer window in order to compete next season, whilst Rangers under new owners and a new manager have everything to prove.
Earlier in the summer, Daniel Farke was rumoured to be under pressure at Elland Road. At the time, it was even suggested that Farke could become the next Rangers manager before the Gers eventually hired Russell Martin.
Martin has history with Leeds: he was in charge of Southampton when they beat Leeds United in the play-off final back in 2024. But he couldn’t make it work with the Saints in the Premier League and now he’s in charge of one of his former clubs in Rangers.
Now, Martin is thought to be keen on bringing one of his own former players with him to Ibrox, and it’s certainly not good news for Leeds United.
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty ImagesRangers backed to beat Leeds United in Shea Charles transfer race
Recent reports have revealed how Leeds United are interested in signing Shea Charles from Southampton. Leeds United are interested in several Southampton players along with Kyle Walker-Peters and Aaron Ramsdale, but we could yet see Martin raid his previous club for new Rangers recruits this summer.
That’s exactly what could happen with Northern Ireland international Charles. Speaking to Leeds United News, our chief transfer correspondent Graeme Bailey has revealed the latest on Charles’ future, backing the 21-year-old to link up with Martin at Rangers rather than move to Elland Road this summer.
Bailey told Leeds United News: “He’s an interesting one. It is more likely that he joins Rangers. He’s not on huge wages and obviously he played under Russell Martin at Southampton.”
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
Shea Charles isn’t the only Leeds United transfer target who Rangers like
It already looks like Rangers and Leeds United sharing transfer targets could become a theme this summer, with Charles not the first to be mentioned alongside the two 49ers-owned clubs.
Earlier in the month it was revealed that Rangers have an interest in Jamie Vardy who’s reportedly on Leeds United’s striker shortlist this summer, whilst Conor Coady is another.
The Leicester City centre-back was linked with a move to West Yorkshire earlier in the year, though more recent reports have revealed how Martin’s Rangers are interested in signing Coady this summer.
For Leeds United, Charles might be the most pressing transfer target of the three, and so this emerging news about Rangers’ potential interest could be very worrying for Farke, who is in desperate need of new midfielders this summer.