Pundit Carlton Palmer does not believe Sheffield Wednesday will lose goalkeeper Pierce Charles in January, despite increasing Premier League interest in his services.
Charles has long been regarded as one of Wednesday's most exciting prospects, and while he is currently second choice behind Brighton & Hove Albion loanee James Beadle, he started all four of his side's EFL Cup games this season.
Pierce Charles' EFL Cup stats for Sheffield Wednesday this season (as per FotMob)
Appearances
Clean sheets
Goals conceded
Saves
Save percentage
In addition to his progression at club level, Charles has also made his breakthrough for Northern Ireland at international level this season, keeping three clean sheets in four games for Michael O'Neill's side since making his debut in October.
It seems that Charles' potential has not gone unnoticed, and after Aston Villa were said to be among a number of Premier League clubs keeping tabs on the 19-year-old last week, journalist Darren Witcoop revealed on Sunday that Tottenham Hotspur are also keen.
Charles is not the only Championship goalkeeper on Spurs' radar, with Burnley's James Trafford and Sunderland's Anthony Patterson also believed to be admired by Ange Postecoglou, but the links with top flight clubs underline how quickly his profile is growing.
Carlton Palmer reacts as Tottenham Hotspur eye Pierce Charles
pierce charles-1
Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Palmer said that he does not believe there is any imminent threat of Wednesday losing Charles in January, but he admitted that the club may be unable to prevent his departure if a Premier League side was to make a significant bid.
"Tottenham are the latest team to join several Premier League clubs, like Aston Villa, in looking at Sheffield Wednesday's young starlet Pierce Charles," Palmer said.
"I don't think he's going anywhere, Danny Rohl has come out and said he's back-up to James Beadle at the moment, but he is only on loan from Brighton.
"I don't see any chance that Sheffield Wednesday will allow Pierce Charles to leave the football club, and certainly not in this January transfer window.
"If anything, Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to add to their squad of players.
"Danny Rohl has again shown his quality in management by bringing Sheffield Wednesday to within three points of the play-offs, and the supporters can start to dream, so the last thing the hierarchy will want to do now is to start talking about losing somebody like Pierce Charles.
"However, if a club like Tottenham or Aston Villa came in and paid top dollar for him, they could loan him back for the rest of the season, and that may be something they could look at in terms of bringing in other players to the squad.
"This is what you want, you want your young players to do well and to be considered and looked at by top clubs, and if somebody comes in with a ridiculous offer, of course Sheffield Wednesday would do the deal and loan him back, but I can't see anything happening this January transfer window."
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Wednesday will be without the Jamaican international for a couple of games now.
Dejphon Chansiri facing big Pierce Charles test as interest mounts
Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri
One of many criticisms Wednesday supporters have had of owner Dejphon Chansiri over the years is that he has failed to protect the club's assets, particularly when it comes to the future of talented young players.
Charles is incredibly highly-rated at Hillsborough, and he looks near certain to become the Owls' number one goalkeeper next season when Beadle returns to Brighton, but as his list of Premier League suitors increases, there is a danger that the club could lose him in the upcoming transfer windows.
As Palmer says, it seems unlikely that Charles will be sold in January, and it may be too soon for him to make the step up to the top flight at this stage, but if any bids do arrive over the next few weeks, they must be firmly rejected by Chansiri.