Boost For Liverpool And Manchester United as Southampton Defender Hands Transfer Request
Jan 6, 2017 at 12:27 AM
The Premier League is one of the most competitive football leagues in Europe as the quality of players in each and every club in the league is of the highest order. So it does not come as a surprise that the bigger clubs in the league are always ready to pounce on star players from the smaller clubs in the league.
The January transfer window is now open and it is that time of the year where the smaller clubs in the English domestic league, will have to fight it out to keep their star players at the club, amidst interests from the financial superpowers in the league.
One such club who will now struggle to keep hold of their star players this transfer window is Southampton.
The St Marys outfit, has in the past, produced some world class players, who are now established at the highest level in Europe and they have always found it hard to keep hold of their players who show promise.
So it does not come as a surprise that they are about to enter a battle to keep veteran defender Jose Fonte at the club this season.
The 33-year old Portuguese international is one of the most experienced players in the Premier League in his position and he helped the Saints to their best-ever finish in the Premier League last season.
He also helped the Portugal national team to the EURO16 title and is the first choice centre back for Claude Puel at the St Marys this season.
However, he has been linked with a move to Manchester United and Liverpool among other clubs in the summer, but Southampton managed to keep hold of him for another year.
He is contracted with the Saints till 2018 but reports today have revealed that the Portuguese man has handed a transfer request to the club to let him leave the club.
The Director of Football for Southampton, Les Reed, revealed today that Fonte has officially asked to be sold and revealed that he is not interested in extending his contract with the club.
Speaking to the BBC Radio, Reed said, “He’s had several opportunities to improve the contract situation. He’s reserved his right not to do that,”
He’s made it very clear he would like to explore the opportunities for a transfer. That’s where we are at the moment, José wants to leave the club. He’s formally asked for a transfer,” he added.
It is understood that Southampton have not received any official bids for their captain but they are ready to off loan him at the right price even in January.
Jose Mourinho is interested in getting him to the Old Trafford while Merseyside outfits Everton and Liverpool are also interested in his signature.
It will be interesting to see where Fonte decides to play for the rest of his career. Where do you think Fonte will move in the upcoming weeks?