BBC pundit Trevor Sinclair has offered a theory on why Southampton captain Jose Fonte has asked to leave the club.
The Saints have been rocked by the news that European Championship winner has handed in a transfer request.
Saints director of football Les Reed told BBC Radio Solent the 33-year-old has made it clear he wants a transfer, having rejected opportunities to extend his contract, which still has 18 months to run.
Southampton’s Jose Fonte
Fonte, who has regularly been linked with a move to Manchester United since his compatriot and namesake Jose Mourinho took over at Old Trafford in the summer – as reported by the likes of The Sun – has made well over 250 appearances for Southampton since arriving from Crystal Palace in 2010.
Fonte took to social media last month to set the record straight on his situation.
“Just to set the record straight I did not reject a new contract,” he wrote on Instagram.
“In fact, I have been informed by Southampton that they are not offering me a new contract.”
Reed’s conflicting statement since and the revelation of the transfer request has set tongues wagging on the reasons why Fonte has asked to leave.
BBC pundit Trevor Sinclair
And former West Ham United and Manchester City star Trevor Sinclair expressed his own theory on Twitter.
“Has Jose Fonte heard 1 or 2 of his team mates is/are leaving again and chucked 1 in??,” the BBC pundit said on Twitter.
The former England international is referring to Southampton’s recent history of selling key players.
While Sinclair is not claiming to be in the know on the situation, former footballers do tend to have connections in the game but it remains to be seen whether that will be the case.
That has been offset by some fantastic signings to replace them but alarm bells will be ringing for Saints fans given that Fonte’s central defensive partner Virgil van Dijk has also been linked with a big money move away from St Marys.
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