Unfortunately 'part exchange' deals (and any Mirror transfer story) are almost always made up nonsense. Although coincidentally one of the worst ever part exchange deals did involve Rojo.
Jose Fonte
- Thread starter Tiber
- Start date
Yes, it's possible far fetched, though perhaps we're just looking at an opportunistic way of binning off a player with no long-term future here.
As has been pointed out regularly on here in the past, swap deals are very rare.
Southampton wanted Rojo before he joined us for sure. I even remember him getting booed at the Saint Mary's because of it. I believe Castles has been mentioning we're willing to sell Rojo for 12m euros (just over £10m), and that seems to be the price quoted for Fonte.
Yep, apparently they had two bids rejected by Sporting that summer before we stepped in.
There may be interest but I'd be surprised if any swap deal were to materialise.
We'll probably end up offering Rojo to them on loan if they want him.
Rojo is considered a worse player than he was when we signed him plus the Saints have a new manager. So them being interested years ago means little
Do you think you might just be reading different posters and it's not that people's opinions are changing depending on whether or not Smalling is playing? If anything people opinions of our players improve if they're not in the side, do you not remember Kagawa?
I'm not playing backseat mod there's no need to be irritated mate, it's just claiming people have wavering opinions on Smalling based on one match is a bit daft.
I'd give Southampton Rojo and Jones for Fonte, just to get rid of the pair of wasters.
If we think Tuanzebe (or another young CB) is going to join the squad in the next 2-3 years, as looks likely, a Jones for Fonte swap would make sense. Get a better but older player for the next couple of seasons then bring in a youngster to replace him.
So Rojo plus cash?? for Fonte...
EDIT: I see we are talking about this already.
But cash too?
EDIT: I see we are talking about this already.
But cash too?
Would love Fonte here. A core 4 of Smalling, Bailly, Blind and Fonte would be just the type of options we need at the back. We wouldnt have won the treble without players like Hennig Berg. If you're going to play for every trophy, you need reliable players in every position. And those four would be a fine bunch. Rojo isnt at the level we're aiming for, and to many injuries have killed the progession of Phil Jones. I can see why Mourinho would fancy Fonte.
My only problem with Smalling is that he can't lead, marshal the defense. He is a good defender, but he can't really organize the line to bring the whole defense to another level, or calm them down. He is already 27, and I am not sure if he ever can do that.
Not dispossessed as in bullied off the ball but if 2 opposition players pressure him he will have to kick it out and cannot think of ways to escape that like Bailly or Blind can. As I said, his defending is solid but in a counterattack, you need to quickly pass to an attacker like martial or ibra or Rooney. Bailly is a much more fast thinker.
Smalling can organise the back four. Haven't you seen him pointing to other defenders to tell them what to do and also haven't you seen him shout at our players during set pieces to stay on the same line? Just because he has a high pitch voice doesn't mean he can't lead. He's obviously not Bruce or Rio or Vidic but he can still lead the back four. Even Carragher had mentioned it twice about Smalling has become the leader of United back four as he thought Smalling couldn't do it before.
Cheers for mentioning Henning Berg; he was my idol when I was a kid: him, Ronny Johnsen and of course, Solskjær.
He's not my first choice, as I think it's much more exciting to go for a talented youngster, but we have many of those coming through (TFM, Tuanzebe), so I guess it makes sense to go for a more experienced player if we're getting rid of Rojo or Jones.
It would seem some people on RedCafe do not understand the meaning of a 'stopgap' signing. Hence Fonte's age not being an issue.
How much is Rojo on? Can Soton match the wage in this supposed exchange?
The Southampton manager is doing his press conference ahead of the United game at 2pm today, so he'll inevitably be asked about Fonte.
I expect he'll be back in their starting line-up on Friday night.
I expect he'll be back in their starting line-up on Friday night.
I'd rather have Fonte than Rojo or Jones.
I think it's a good deal, hope it goes through.
I think it's a good deal, hope it goes through.
I think this settles the argument guys:
http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/news/43560/?
http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/news/43560/?
So Fonte to replace Rojo? I dont really see the point, especially as Rojo can play two positions, and is a decent back up. That said, I guess Blind would be back up to Shaw if we were to get rid of Rojo. Or it might not even be Rojo we're looking to replace. It could be Jones, which I wouldnt be happy about, but would understand.
Just in relation to Fonte talking about us. Puel has accused us of instigating this by leaking rumours to the press with the intention of distracting the player in an attempt to destabilize Southampton before we play them.
Does that sound like something Josè would do? Quite frankly it does to me, although he often repeats that he doesn't want to speak about other club's players when asked in press conferences etc.
Honestly doesn't make too much sense to me why Mourinho and United have to do such things, particularly when it's for a home league game against Southampton and it's for a player who's decent, but not exactly world class.
So in other words, I see there being no chance that this rumour is (solely) because United are trying to destabilise Fonte and Southampton.
Isn't Puel a bit of a whiny bitch?
That's the thing it's not us officially, as we can't talk about players contracted to other clubs as that would be tapping up. However it appears José may have used Mendes to put the idea out there and encourage Fonte to speak out to exert some pressure of Southampton.
It might be a small edge and we could be accused of being classless doing it right before they visit us, but if we win it'll be worth it, whether we sign the player or not.
Had to laugh at the Rojo swap rumors. The papers must have read this forum, seen that no one likes Rojo, and decided 'this will be a great swap rumor to get their attention'.
We need Rojo as backup to Shaw. Rojo isn't a bad LB at all really. Okay he's not great, but there's just something I like about him. I wouldn't rely on him at CB, but unless we entrust Jackson as Shaw's deputy, then Rojo has to be it. Blind is needed at CB.
I rate Rojo well ahead of Darmian. In terms of attitude and desire, Rojo is streets ahead.
We need Rojo as backup to Shaw. Rojo isn't a bad LB at all really. Okay he's not great, but there's just something I like about him. I wouldn't rely on him at CB, but unless we entrust Jackson as Shaw's deputy, then Rojo has to be it. Blind is needed at CB.
I rate Rojo well ahead of Darmian. In terms of attitude and desire, Rojo is streets ahead.
Well if United are genuinely interested in Fonte and we made contact a few ago, I'm not sure you can class them as being classless imo. What was classless was when Arsenal bid for Cabaye like a day before they played Newcastle.
Good addition to squad in my opinion.better defender than rojo.fitter than jones. 8 to 10 million would be fair price. Gives 2 to 3 yrs for the young centre halves coming through. Was impressed with him in euros too. If there is truth in this i would imagine after friday night there would be movement.jose is building a strong balanced squad
This destabilisation thing can happen before a particularly big game, but if it were done before every single one, even less than average matches like this, we would look pretty stupid pretty quickly.
I would rather keep Blind and Jones as back up along with Mensah and Tuanzabe if need be than signing Fonte. I understand the stop gap scenario but that is how I see Blind as I dont rate him (nor sadly Jones anymore) as a centre back but I dont see the point of signing a very average 32 year old just because e knows the premiership and had a good Euros. For me he doesnt carry great experience and he is also no better than what we already have. I think the whole thing is bs, and hope so as he adds nothing, would be like signing Wes Morgan, Ashley Williams, Robert Huth I could go on and on, all decent defenders.....none of them top side quality though.
Ronny Johnsen and Henning Berg werent exactly top side quality but they were great additions to the squad that when call upon were solid.10m chance on Fonte is safer than the 20m chance LvG took on Rojo in my opinion. Baily and Blind are going well and Smalling is back so Fonte would possibly be 4th choice. Looks better than having Rojo or relying on Jones .
I know what you mean, but Southampton have won their last 2 trips to OT, if we can effect their captain it could cause them problems throughout the team and give us a better chance at stopping them making it 3 wins at our place.
Yes (Lille 2007).
Fair point. If he was swapped for Rojo, which will never happen I wouldnt mind. Only thing is Berg was signed when short on numbers and I dont think we are, only possibly if Bailly goes to the Africans nations and Jones is injured.
ROnny Johnsen I had never head of when we signed him, I think he was such an under rated defender, even by our own fans a lot of the time. My main problem with Fonte is I just think he is so average and we have wasted millions on average signings the last three years
Everyone was always injured while we had LvG - besides in his first season here he played 29 matches and was generally very good.
He is 24 years old - and he has played 3 years under 2 managers who weren't good enough - let's give the guy a chance at the new United.
What are you talking about ? Ronny Johnsen was a brilliant defender who was a regular with Jaap Stam when United won the treble - unfortunately he was injured a lot. But he was a regular for 3 seasons - however due to his injuries - he only played about 75 matches in those 3 seasons.
Ronnie Johnsen would be worth 50 Million today's market. He was a fabulous defender who could pass and was very quick.
Rojo is now considered a LB, he plays there at united and in the national team
We all, rightly, consider rojo an average player, but he is good rated by other clubs
Fonte could be the 4th CB, but without Rojo we don't have a LB back up.
As LB back up, on the market at this moment, there are availables Charlie Taylor and Andrew Robertson.
We all, rightly, consider rojo an average player, but he is good rated by other clubs
Fonte could be the 4th CB, but without Rojo we don't have a LB back up.
As LB back up, on the market at this moment, there are availables Charlie Taylor and Andrew Robertson.