Saw Fonte outside SMS a couple of seasons ago when I was educating my grandson in things Saints. I'd bought the lad the shirt and Jose signed it making the boy a life long Saint. Jose, you are a cruel git!
Fonte and Koeman were just on Barclays Premier League World on SS1. Fonte said he doesn't want the upheaval to send us backwards or damage the club on the field. Koeman said his plan is 'To dominate, not to wait'. Fonte sounded very upbeat and joked that he hopes Koeman lets him take free-kicks...
If that's exactly as he said then he's more a team player than I took him for. Excellent attitude, and one which throws the departed players' behaviour into sharp relief.
Don't know if Fonte would be interested in signing a new contract at this point. Which is fair. I mean, there has been a lot of upheaval at the club and if it were me I might want to wait and discuss things. And if I were Saints I would be mindful we have a lot of cash in the bank, that Jose is 30, and we have some prospects. So not sure I'd be looking to extend him just now either. Makes more sense for both sides to size up where they are and maybe revisit this later in the season. Fonte would probably not generate a ton of cash in sale and it's not like we need money right now so we don't need to tie him down just for the transfer value. But it is nice that Fonte seems to be happy with the situation and even if he doesn't wish to stay here he's going to give it his all and be positive until the end.