Blow for Arsenal and Manchester United as transfer target is offered a lucrative contract at current club
Aug 17, 2016 at 4:37 PM
Manchester United have made a great start to their new campaign with a victory over the Cherries at the weekend in the first game of the new season.
Jose Mourinho, the new man at Old Trafford has made some world class signings to add to the squad from the previous season and has spent more than £140m on his players this summer.
However, he is not yet done with his spending as reports suggested that he is closing in on a £8m deal for Southampton’s Jose Fonte to add to his back-line this summer.
The EURO16 winning defender was a great asset for the Premier League side last season and carried his confidence to France where he helped Portugal secure a memorable victory on the final day against the hosts.
He is reportedly ready to make a move to Manchester United and has asked the club to let him leave this summer which has seen the likes of Arsenal also establish interest in him.
Both clubs are ready to pay the asking price for the 32-year old and it is reported the Fonte will have to choose between the two clubs if he makes the move.
However, Claude Puel, the new manager at the St Marys is not yet giving up on the defender and wants him to stay at the club for another year.
It is now revealed that Southampton have offered the Portuguese star a new contract to try and tie him up to the club this summer.
The 32-year old signed a contract extension just last year with a deal that saw his earn £45,000-a-week for three years. However, with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal now interested in his signature, Southampton are ready to improve the contract and want Fonte to sign yet another extension.
It is revealed that the Saints are ready to offer Fonte a contract worth £70,000 making him one of the highest earners at the club.
Claude Puel has got the likes of Fraser Forster, Dusan Tadic, Virgil van Dijk and Shane Long to sign contract extensions with the club this summer and he will be hoping to tie Fonte down in another deal.
It is still rumored that Fonte is close to a switch this summer and the new contract on the table may be the only thing that can keep the veteran at the club for another year.