Crystal Palace are now favourites to sign Southampton contract rebel.
Popular bookmakers SkyBet have installed Crystal Palace as the new 6/5 favourites in the race to sign want-away Southampton defender Jose Fonte.
The 32-year-old Portuguese international has been heavily linked with a move away from St Mary’s this summer, and recently handed in a transfer request to club officials (the Express).
Southampton’s Jose Fonte in action
And despite Manchester United holding a keen interest in Fonte, SkyBet now list the Eagles as clear favourites in the race to sign the centre-back at 6/5, of the Red Devils at 3/1 and Liverpool at 9’s.
Sam Allardyce is desperately looking to strengthen his defensive options at Selhurst Park, and the 32-year-old Saints man would be the ideal addition to the Palace squad this month.
Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk and Jose Fonte
Despite his advancing years, Fonte is still widely considered to be one of the best man-to-man markers in the Premier League, and he has all the attributes that are seen as prerequisites for a defender, as far as Big Sam is concerned.
With 18 months still left to run on his contract with the Saints, Palace will still need to pay a fee to prise him away from the club, but with the player making it clear that he wants to leave, it will surely not be outside the realms of what the South Londoners will deem as reasonable.
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