Thursday , March 28 2024

Southampton place £15m price tag on Jose Fonte to deter Manchester United from January move.

Southampton have placed a £15million valuation on defender Jose Fonte in order to prevent Manchester United from taking advantage of his contract impasse at St Mary’s.

United manager Jose Mourinho, who shares the same agent – Jorge Mendes – as Portugal’s Euro 2016 winner, failed to land Fonte in the summer and is still keen to add experience to his back-four.

Mourinho’s allies have suggested Fonte could leave in January for as little as £5million because his contract only has 18 months left to run with no sign of an extension being agreed.

However, Saints have scoffed at the prospect of letting their centre-half go cheaply and have made it clear that Mourinho will have to treble his asking price for a deal to be struck next month.

Southampton have been renowned for getting top prices for their players over recent seasons and have sold Morgan Schneiderlin and Luke Shaw to United for a combined £52million.

Fonte, 32, has played 280 times for Southampton since signing from Crystal Palace in 2010 and made four appearances for Portugal in their triumphant European Championship campaign in France last summer.

Though Eric Bailly and more recently Phil Jones have been impressive for United this season, neither are yet 25 and Mourinho is looking to recruit a more senior player at the back at the right price.

However, a deal may be more difficult to strike with Southampton not willing to let Fonte out the door at any price.

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