What's the deal with Fonte?

Jose Fonte not interested in talk of Manchester United switch - Sports Mole
https://apple.news/AhIUBoBa8PLaZ6t-MKt9pEw

This provocative article reminded me that Fonte has not played one minute of Europa football. Who thinks some sort of agreement has already been made?

 

Conspiracy theory at it's finest! He's been on the bench, so they're obviously prepared to use him in the EL.

 

And if he doesn't play until Jan? Will you still be so sure?

 

If Man U want to pay decent money for a player who will be 33 by the January window, let them have him. If a non-derisory offer were on the table I'd be astounded if we didn't take it.

Vin

 

We won't let anyone leave in January - unless it is for ridiculous money but that won't be offered at his age. It's barely worth discussing. Our board arent idiots. We are short at the back as it is, Fonte has been rested and rightly so.

 

It feels like VVD is already being groomed as the next Saints captain. If Fonte leaves then he will leave a huge void but with that comes the opportunity for us to find another van Dijk. I trust the board to make the right decision. I would love to see the list of potential replacements that the Black Box has stored away. As somebody quite rightly said, Fonte will be 33 come January and it might not be such a bad thing to make money off him while it's on the table. That's my balanced view, if it was up to me of course I would keep him.

 

Yep - he won't go in January. It'll be next summer at the earliest.

 

He won't go in January....unless we have a replacement in line. We need him this season because of the number of games. I don't read much into him not playing in the Europa....he posted a picture of himself despondent before the Inter home game. Puel has no emotional link to Jose and seems to like Yoshida as much as or more than Fonte...perhaps because he has a better turn of speed. Mourinho needs him for his organisational abilities....much as I love Jose, I would rather lose him than Virgil.

In the summer, we should be more prepared to lose Jose and, if he wants to go, he will have earned the chance of one last big move and should have our blessing.

 

Have you heard more rumblings Beefy? Or is this you buying into the saving him for Man Utd's Europa conspiracy. Seems strange when we have such a strong chance of getting through, Utd are 3rd in their group and playing poorly, unless this has been in the works since day 1.

We wouldn't sell Fonte if we didn't have a replacement lined up (we may do), whether it's January or the summer.

 

I was worried about losing Jose last summer, more because of his leadership qualities and how important a leader he was around the club. I wasn't worried about losing him as a player as although he's still a good player, we can improve on him, he is on the decline and he isn't getting any younger. If we can get some decent money for him, and have a player ready to come into the club to replace him, then I'm all for it, even in January. The important thing is, that we wouldn't sell him unless it was worth it for us, and we had a replacement lined up.

 

I did consider it for a while but I don't buy the EL cup tie conspiracy for 2 reasons:

1) As others have said, he has been on the bench so you have to assume if a cb got injured he would come on.

2) Clubs like Man United don't plan their transfer strategy around the Europa League. Mourinho has already pretty much said he doesn't want to be in the competition so why would they insist on it?

I simply think Puel decided that VVD will be rested in the LC & Fonte in the EL.

May seem harsh to us seeing Joses contribution in getting us there but all we can do is accept it.

Hopefull we get to the ko stages and he will end up playing a game in those.

Be interesting to see the team in the FA cup... though I imagine it will depend on the Arsenal result and EL progression.

 

If Feyenoord can get something at OT, Utd may very well not go through. Which would be a great shame.

 

Our most loyal player since MLT. Has always indicated he would like to see his career out here. Big influence in dressing room and surely a coaching role in the future. That said you can't really blame him for seeking a last big pay day with Utd if they showed interest. Will be just like Rickie at Liverpool though and I'm not sure money is really that important to him.

 

As history has shown us, the doubling of already inflated wages tends to overcome loyalty fairly quickly regardless of the footballing logic

 

You're going to make me cry in a minute.

 

I've already got the tissues ready.

 

Nope, just United are still very keen. I have noticed us dialing back the amount of Fonte stuff though. I remember when he was talking about us nearly every week on the OS.

 

Isn't Jose expecting a new offer of a contract Beefy as a show of "loyalty" for him staying this summer?

 

Been offered the biggest deal we have ever offered. Last thing I was told is he hadn't signed it.

 

With laughter?