West Ham are set to sell Jose Fonte to Chinese club Dalian Yifang.
It seems West Ham United have moved on Portugal defender Jose Fonte. The Chinese transfer market is not yet shut and Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang are seemingly set to sign the player in a £4.9 million deal – as reported by the Daily Record.
Fonte, who won the European Championships with Portugal in 2016, struggled to find form and fitness after joining the club from Southampton in January 2017 and at 35-years-old West Ham have got a handsome fee for the player.
But could it impact their chances of signing another Portuguese star, currently on loan at the club?
West Ham fans have been very impressed with the displays of Joao Mario since he was picked up on loan from Inter Milan.
It was a coup of a deal from the Hammers and, at the time, the midfielder explained to Sky Sports that Fonte was pivotal in making the deal happen. He stated:
“I knew West Ham were a big club with a lot of history so it was easy to come.
“It was great because also here at West Ham is Jose Fonte, who plays with me for the national team. That’s made it easier.
“He said good things and tried to convince me all of the time. He told me to come to the best league, a great club and enjoy. That helped a lot so I came to see for myself.”
With Fonte now gone West Ham may have lost one of their best bargaining chips in keeping hold of the player at the end of the season.
His loan deal does not include any form of buying clause for the end of the season but it has been hinted he could make the move to West Ham permanent and undoubtedly the club’s fans would love to see that happen.
But with Fonte gone, they may have just let the ace fall from down their sleeve.
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