My usual way of acquiring Saints info, is me texting my source to ask if there's anything new they can tell me yet. Occasionally, it works the other way, and they call me to volunteer it without prompting. As happened whilst I was at the beach this evening. That usually means it is something the Club themselves actively wants out there, unofficial like, via random looney "bullshitters" like yours truly.
No blowback that way. So probably take it in that vein.
My friend said that with a lot of rumours and uncertainty circulating around Jose Fonte in the last few days, they wanted to clarify a few things. Firstly, there has been NO official bid from Everton. Doesn't know where that one came from. As of the last they knew this evening -- there has also been NO official bid from Utd, or anyone else either. It is all coming from the Agent Mendes
Secondly, about Jose himself: he arrived back from winning the European Championship understandably "with his head in the clouds" -- [At least it wasn't in Liverpool]
-- and it "still hasn't re-emerged yet".
He was offered a renegotiated contract which was effectively simply a pay rise to make him the highest earner at the Club, with an optional one year extention at the Club's discretion to his current deal, which expires in 2018. He indicated he would be delighted to extend, "sort it out with my agent", and went off on his extended post-Euro's holiday.
When he arrived back at the Club, it was clear that he was having some mental difficulties in adjusting. Naturally, having just become a European Champion, he was still floating on cloud nine -- but it seems to have all gone to his head. And stayed there.
His recent instagram post being a great example of his current mindset. He is "love-struck" with his own success, and can't stop thinking about it. There is no "falling out" -- but Jose has completely lost his focus. It was much more for this reason that he did not start the last game, rather than fitness issues. He is not in the right frame of mind to Captain the team right now, and you can't put the captain out there, without wearing the armband.
We were very confident until a few days ago that Jose would sign his new deal, but the agent has been playing games. Using so called "interest" [real or imagined] from "big clubs" to increase Fonte's value and secure a better deal, for both Jose and Agent Mendes himself.
This has further destabilised Jose's frame of mind. Fonte has NOT told the Club he wants to leave -- and has indeed repeatedly said himself he is very happy at the Club.
Essentially, Jose's International success has screwed with his mind, and he is simply not mentally focussed sufficiently to play. We are hopeful that it is a short-term blip, that he'll simply snap out of -- this being so completely out of character for Jose, who is usually the consummate model professional. Club will do everything in our power keep him, sort his head out, and finalise his yet another new contract.
At present, there is no problem in that regard with Fonte acting like a knob or anything, but if any serious bids do arrive, no-one knows exactly how he will react. Club are adamant that he must stay, but if he does kick off about it, and we get another exorbitant offer for a 32 year old defender, then we'll have to wait and see what happens.
At this point, as far as we are concerned -- he will be a Saint when the window closes. We're very hopeful he'll get his head sorted out soon, and sign the new deal, which was pretty much done until this "supposed interest" arrived to bump up the figures being asked for by Jose's agent to sign.
That's about all I have for now. Sorry it is not exactly all "great news" to share, but my source felt it was something that needed to be clarified. So as always, I pass it on in good faith. "Bullshit" or otherwise.
