Everton tabled a bid for the Southampton centre-back in the summer and will be linked again this month.
The market for English players is so out of control that it’s difficult to even estimate how much Everton would have to pay to convince Manchester United into selling Chris Smalling.
The Daily Star reports that Toffees boss Ronald Koeman has identified the 27-year-old as a prime target after slipping to fourth choice at Old Trafford in recent weeks, fifth if you add the versatile Daley Blind into the equation.
Nonetheless, no matter whether United’s valuation is completely outlandish or simply exaggerated, Smalling would undoubtedly cost a bob or two more than Southampton’s 33-year-old Jose Fonte.
Murmurs of discontent have been emanating from the South Coast for some time and, according to The Guardian, the towering centre-back, who has just 18 months left on his current deal, has handed in a transfer request after being increasingly irritated by Claude Puel’s rotation policy.
A policy which caused him to miss all of Southampton’s six Europa League group-stage fixtures as well as the recent derby with Bournemouth.
However, there is a very real chance that Fonte could finally sample continental football at Goodison Park next season with The Toffees currently standing in seventh, three places and six points above the saints.
The Guardian add that Everton made an offer of £7.6 million for Fonte just a few weeks after he celebrated winning Euro 2016 and renewed interest from the blue half of Merseyside should be expected this month.
After all, Koeman appears to have lost faith in the declining Phil Jagielka while Ramiro Funes Mori is yet to convince, meaning Ashley Williams has not enjoyed the benefit of a consistent, reliable partner.
Furthermore, Fonte and Koeman know each other well from an impressive two years at St Mary’s so rarely has a move appeared to make more sense.
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