Leeds United are chasing three transfer targets as they prepare to jet off to the United States for pre-season, with their bid for Southampton midfielder Shea Charles still stuck in limbo.
What’s happening with Leeds United’s transfer business?
Daniel Farke’s side are set to fly to America this week for a training camp and three friendlies, starting with Wrexham in Tampa on Sunday. Sunderland in New Jersey and Liverpool in Chicago follow, giving the Whites a chance to test new signings and squad options on the road.
Goalkeeper James Trafford, who helped England finish third at the World Cup, is now on his three-week break after Manchester City triggered his release clause. Leeds are among the clubs monitoring the 24-year-old, though no move is confirmed. The Whites have also been linked with free agent Julian Brandt, whose Borussia Dortmund contract expires this summer. His father Jürgen visited Thorp Arch last week to discuss terms, but other clubs are circling the 30-year-old playmaker.
Leeds have been chasing three deals in parallel. Talk of a move for Lyon’s Pavel Sulc has surfaced, but the club insists they’re not actively pursuing the Czech attacker right now. The same goes for Brighton’s Kjell Scherpen, a name Leeds know well but aren’t pushing for at this stage.
Why the Shea Charles saga keeps dragging on
Leeds’ summer-long pursuit of Shea Charles has hit a wall. Reports claiming a deal was close or done have repeatedly fallen flat, with a valuation gap between the clubs leaving the 22-year-old’s future uncertain. Farke’s side remain hopeful of finding common ground, but no breakthrough has arrived.
The stalemate comes despite Leeds’ history of wrapping up transfers while on the road. Last summer, Lucas Perri and Anton Stach joined after moves from Lyon and Hoffenheim while the squad was in Germany, with staff flying in to speed up medicals and paperwork.
What’s next for Farke’s Leeds?
The Whites will use the US trip to bed in new faces and test their depth before the Premier League curtain-raiser. With World Cup returnees back from their mandated breaks, Farke will look to turn transfer talk into tangible additions-starting with a resolution on Charles.
Leeds kick off their pre-season campaign in Tampa on Sunday, with the squad’s fitness and cohesion under the microscope. The Whites sit 14th in the Premier League’s final 2025 table, 38 points behind Arsenal, with a goal difference of -7 after scoring 49 and conceding 56 in 38 games. Recent form reads LWDWD as they eye an improved start to the new campaign.
