Huge: West Ham Agree Terms, All Set To Sign Potential Manchester United And Liverpool Target
Jan 21, 2017 at 12:55 AM
Jose Fonte seems all set to join West Ham as the Portuguese defender is reportedly in advanced talks with the Londoners.
Sky Sports have reported that the Southampton captain is close to agreeing on a deal to join the Hammers. The commanding centre-half has expressed a desire to leave St Mary’s which will come as a blow to the coastal club considering he is one of their leaders and key performers.
Jurgen Klopp wants to add more experience to his back four and views Fonte as an ideal candidate to help bolster his side’s title challenge.
If this latest report is to be believed then it will be a huge blow for Manchester United and Liverpool as both the clubs were heavily linked with a move for the experienced Saints defender. Everton were also chasing the Portugal international.
Fonte joined Southampton in 2010 from Crystal Palace. He helped the Saints gain promotion from League 1 to the Championship, earning a place in the league’s team of the year selection after only one season at St.Mary’s. Fonte had previously been on the books at Benfica where he failed to make an appearance.
The veteran defender was part of the team that achieved a second consecutive promotion making a return to the Premier League where the Saints have grown in stature under his leadership. He was voted Southampton player of the year in 2011 and 2015 and will be a major loss to the club.
He was a latecomer to international football and in 2014 at the age of thirty-one, made his international debut for Portugal. Last summer he struck up an impressive defensive partnership with Pepe as Portugal won their first ever European Championship title. It was his performances in France compiled with his consistency with Southampton over the years that has generated a huge range of interest with Manchester United said to be one of the big name clubs linked with his signature.
However, West Ham look to be the beneficiaries. Slaven Bilic will be keen to add to his defensive options and provide competition for first choice centre-halves James Collins and Winston Reid. Fonte will provide another experienced head at the London Stadium, and with the Hammers on an impressive run of form lately, his signature could provide them with another push to a strong finish this season.