Sheffield Wednesday’s best summer signing this season has been Shea Charles, who’s on loan from Southampton. But as ever with impressive loanees, the future is uncertain.
Sheffield Wednesday fans know that the chances of them ever signing Shea Charles on a permanent deal from Southampton are absolutely nil.
He cost the Saints £15million in the summer of 2023 and his impressive performances for the Owls this season will have only boosted that value.
Instead, the biggest concern right now is of Southampton recalling Charles during the January transfer window.
Already, Danny Rohl has shared fears of Charles being recalled in the middle of the season. But speaking earlier in the season, Southampton boss Russell Martin played down a recall for Charles.
That was over a month ago. The Saints remain in last place of the Premier League table and it’s looking pretty desperate ahead of January, leaving Sheffield Wednesday fans with ongoing fears of a January recall of Charles.
Rob Staton verdict on possible Shea Charles recall at Sheffield Wednesday
Speaking on Football Heaven, BBC pundit Rob Staton has now weighed in on the matter, sharing his verdict on whether or not Southampton might recall Charles in January.
He said: “I suppose it depends on how Southampton feel about Charles and his development.
“Whether they think he’s just better off playing games, and playing every week, as opposed to, ‘The season’s not going to plan, we’ll bring him back and have him in the squad because it’s a bad look to have a player playing well somewhere else’.
“But again, just because he’s playing well at Sheffield Wednesday doesn’t mean that he’s ready to go and take the Premier League by storm.
“So they might think 40 games playing for Wednesday is better than sitting on the bench, not playing for Southampton or getting the odd game here and there.
“So we’ll see. I’m sure as we get closer to January it’ll become clearer as to what’s happening there. But if Wednesday lost him, it’d be a huge blow.”
What did Russell Martin say about recalling Shea Charles?
Staton makes a very good point above. Charles, as good as he is, isn’t going to single-handedly drag Southampton out of a relegation scrap, and with relegation looking likely right now, the Saints will surely want a Championship-ready Charles in place for next season.
And when discussing Charles’ situation in October, Saints boss Martin echoed Staton’s comments.
Martin said of the 21-year-old: “He’s learning, and this is why it will be so important for him, rather than being in and around the first-team as an option because the Premier League is such a big jump.
“He’s there, he’s learning and he’s playing in really big games. This loan period will be so good for him.”
So it certainly seems like Martin recognises the importance of Charles playing regular football. But Southampton’s situation could change come January; an injury in midfield could force them to recall Charles and leave Wednesday with a huge void in midfield.
Rohl’s side return to action with a game against Cardiff City at Hillsborough this weekend.