From Fabrizio Romano: Borussia Dortmund interested in rising Manchester City midfielder

Borussia Dortmund are among the clubs keeping an eye on Manchester City’s rising midfield talent Shea Charles, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Born in Manchester, Shea Charles is one of several players to have progressed through Manchester City’s vast and meticulous Academy system over the years, having joined the club and first started representing the Blues at under-9 level.

Charles is viewed by many to be a committed central midfielder, holding an excellent passing range, and having the versatility at both right-back and in the centre of a back-four – as implemented by Pep Guardiola in a recent mid-season friendly against Girona.

Charles’ rise within the game – that has also seen him captain Northern Ireland at youth level, and make his debut for their senior squad – has not gone unnoticed, and is starting to capture the imaginations of potential suitors from across Europe.

That is according to the information of transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who has revealed that interest is now ‘growing’ around Manchester City and Northern Ireland’s midfielder, Shea Charles.

Among the clubs monitoring the development of the 19 year-old are Borussia Dortmund – according to Romano – who have an excellent relationship with the Premier League champions, and have a history of offering young talents an immediate pathway to first-team football.

Speaking recently on his future, as relayed by RTE News, Charles explained, “At the moment I’m just going to see out the season and we’ll see what happens. Hopefully, I’d love to stay at City. That’s obviously the main target, but you never know, so we’ll see.

“It will be difficult (to get into the side), but I’m confident in my own abilities. Training with them, learning from them all the time, it’s just a great experience.”

So far this season, Shea Charles has played an integral role for Manchester City’s more senior academy groups, registering a total of 30 appearances across all competitions.

Charles has played a total of 20 matches for Manchester City’s Elite Development squad in the Premier League 2, a further seven in the UEFA Youth League, and three appearances in the EFL Trophy – while also regularly training with Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad.

Should Shea Charles move on in the coming months, then he would follow in the footsteps of a long line of City academy stars who have felt that their careers are best suited away from Manchester City.

Romeo Lavia, Gavin Bazunu, Juan Larios, and Samuel Edozie all made moves to Southampton during the most recent summer transfer window, while Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Jadon Sancho have made switches to Borussia Dortmund themselves over the past few years, and to great success.

Nevertheless, Shea Charles knows he is in invaluable company at the Etihad Stadium, and has stressed his admiration for those whom he works alongside.

“It’s more with the likes of Fernandinho before he left, Rodri now, Kalvin Phillips as well now, because they play in my position.

“Watching them, learning, asking questions, that’s the main thing. The reading of the game – game intelligence and a good range of passing is really important.”