Southampton slap hefty price-tag on centre-back who has been heavily linked with exit.
The Saints have slapped a £15 million price-tag on Jose Fonte, in an effort to deter Manchester United from making a January bid for the Portuguese centre-back, according to the Daily Mail.
The 32-year-old’s contract with Southampton still has 18 months left to run, and Claude Puel would seemingly rather lose him for nothing when he would then be 34, rather than disrupt his side’s season by selling him in January.
Southampton’s Jose Fonte
The Daily Mail report that United boss Jose Mourinho would be prepared to part with just £5 million to secure Fonte’ services, but the Saints will ask for at least three times that amount.
The Portuguese star has been at St Mary’s for nearly seven years, after moving to the south coast for a fee of just £800,000 in January 2010.
Southampton’s Jose Fonte in action
He has made 285 appearances for the Saints, and has fully established himself as a vitally important member of the first-team squad, during his time with the club.
And Fonte has proven, with his consistency, that he would be the ideal addition to the United backline, but whether the 32-year-old would be worth £15 million is another matter entirely.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
