Sheffield Wednesday may be intent on bringing players in during the January transfer window, but they have to be wary of interest in Pierce Charles, too.
After a slow start to the season, Sheffield Wednesday are now in good form and climbing the Championship table quickly.
With Danny Rohl favouring the on-loan James Beadle in goal, it remains to be seen what the future holds for young Pierce Charles.
But, reports suggest Charles is being targeted by a number of Premier League clubs as we head into the New Year, and one team in particular stands out as an obvious choice.
Southampton could be the ideal fit for Pierce Charles
It is not known at this stage which clubs exactly have been showing an interest in Charles, but a move to Southampton would feel like a very natural step for the teenager.
First of all, the most obvious draw for him in joining the Saints would be the fact his brother, Shea Charles, is owned by the South Coast club.
The Charles brothers have spoken previously about their excitement to finally play together, and the prospect of them linking up permanently may be too much to turn down.
Then, there is the fact that Russell Martin prefers his team to play a patient, passing game starting at the back. Southampton require a goalkeeper who is comfortable with the ball at his feet, and that is something Pierce Charles excels at.
Pierce Charles would be better off staying at Sheffield Wednesday
There are some important factors for Charles to consider before he books a flight down to the other end of the country, though.
First of all, there is no guarantee that Russell Martin will still be at Southampton for the rest of the season. Indeed, with the way results are going for the Saints, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him ousted before the end of the month.
If Martin were to stick around and sign the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper, then a new manager comes in further down the line, Charles would need to impress all over again.
Speaking of Southampton’s current predicament, it is very likely they will end up being relegated this season. Ultimately, whether Charles signs for them or not, he’s probably going to be playing in the Championship next season anyway.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 17 |  Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace | 14 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 18 | -6 | 12 |
| 18 |  IpswichIpswich | 14 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 25 | -12 | 9 |
| 19 |  WolvesWolves | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 22 | 36 | -14 | 9 |
| 20 |  SouthamptonSouthampton | 14 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 30 | -19 | 5 |
It certainly makes more sense for the 19-year-old to stick around at Hillsborough and be patient. James Beadle is playing well right now, but the Brighton loanee will no doubt head home in the summer, leaving Charles to claim the number one spot in Sheffield Wednesday’s team next season.
The more practical option for Charles would be to find a loan move that can help him gain valuable experience until the end of the campaign. That would be the more appealing and realistic January transfer move for Sheffield Wednesday, but if a strong offer does come in for their young goalkeeper next month, it may be too hard to resist.