Jose Fonte

Raoul said:
No offense but who cares ?
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Agreed.

Also what about the massive statement made by only signing a striker with a couple years left so that Rashford is given every opportunity to grow?
 
don't sign old players said:
It would be a massive statement if we sign Fonte. All the youngsters will know they've got zero game time to look forward to.
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Jones and Rojo should be sold or loaned out and Blackett and CBJ will also be loaned out

That would give us the following defence:

RB: Valencia, TFM
LB: Shaw, Darmian
CB: Bailly, Smalling, Blind, Fonté, Tuanzebe

(Blind can also play as LB or CDM, Darmian as RB, TFM as CB or CDM)

-TFM: 18 years old
-Tuanzebe: 19 years old
-Shaw: 21 years old
-Bailly: 22 years old
-Daley Blind: 26 years old
-Smalling: 26 years old
-Darmian: 26 years old
-Valencia: 31 years old
-Fonté: 32 years old

That is a perfect mix
 
devilish said:
Actually no. If we buy Fonte we will probably get rid of either Jones and Rojo (hopefully both). Fonte has 1-2 good years of top quality football left in him. That means that someone like CBJ would be able to leave on loan knowing that he will return and fight for a first team place
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He's a good age for any of the 18-19 year olds who arent good enough yet but who may be in the near future. Jones needs moving on ala evans. its clearly not going to happen for him here.
 
Smalling and TFM and Fonte would be good cover. We have a lot of games and if we get injuries we don't want a situation with Carrick in defence. If it spells the end of Jones I'm all for it.
 
Scholsey2004 said:
He's a good age for any of the 18-19 year olds who arent good enough yet but who may be in the near future. Jones needs moving on ala evans. its clearly not going to happen for him here.
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exactly
 
As I would prefer having Miranda at United than Mustafi, I think that Fonte is ours if Mourinho really wants him. Mendes player, Portuguese like Mourinho, I really think that the connexion can be done quite quickly.

To be honest he would be an absolute, massive, improvement at Jones and Rojo. He's fitter than both and especially better.

With Bailly, Smalling, Fonte, Blind and Tuanzebe I think that we can have a good mix of experience and talent.

I just hope that this deal can be sealed asap
 
Chaky_Best said:
As I would prefer having Miranda at United than Mustafi, I think that Fonte is ours if Mourinho really wants him. Mendes player, Portuguese like Mourinho, I really think that the connexion can be done quite quickly.

To be honest he would be an absolute, massive, improvement at Jones and Rojo. He's fitter than both and especially better.

With Bailly, Smalling, Fonte, Blind and Tuanzebe I think that we can have a good mix of experience and talent.

I just hope that this deal can be sealed asap
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This. Jones is constantly injured, Rojo is wildly inconsistent and a bit injury-prone as well.
 
This "interest" always sound like bollocks to me. Would dare to bet that it won't happen, same with Fabinho.Only more than 1 week left until the transfer window closed. I don't think Jose will get rid of both Rojo and Darmian whom both can cover for 2 positions (albeit not that good but they won't play much anyway). There are always some players that been linked to us for the whole window and ended up not making the move.

Another note is Fonte is on the same age as Vidic was when we sold him and I'm not a fan of signing CBs that old, especially in a robust league like PL.
 
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khoazany said:
This "interest" always sound like bollocks to me. Would dare to bet that it won't happen, same with Fabinho.Only more than 1 week left until the transfer window closed. I don't think Jose will get rid of both Rojo and Darmian whom both can cover for 2 positions (albeit not that good but they won't play much anyway). There are always some players that been linked to us for the whole window and ended up not making the move.

Another note is Fonte is on the same age as Vidic was when we sold him and I'm not a fan of signing CBs that old, especially in a robust league like PL.
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Now obviously Tony Martial is quick but Fonte was lightning slow trying to get near him. The best part of his game is defending deep and attacking high balls however he never looked like challenging Zlatan for the goal despite being in a perfect position to.
 
Jones is too much injury prone and Fonte could be good for our defence as it is now.
 
Jones to Stoke and Fonte to United...

Let's be honest, that would be a great move.
 
I think Fonte would be a good signing to give us another organizer/leader type CB in the back like Blind to pair with and and complement a physical beast type CB like Smalling and Bailly. Keep one of Jones and Rojo and shift the other and that would be good for the season with Tuanzebe as a youth prospect capable of stepping up if required and Carrick able to put in a shift in case of emergency.
 
Would like him here. An assured, experienced defender that would step in perfectly if two of Bailly/Smalling/Blind get injured. At 32 he wouldn't mind a bit-part role imo. Last chance at a bigger pay cheque and some silverware.
 
I just think what's the point. We have capable backup defenders already, at 32 what is he going to add?
 
Summit said:
Then why has no one on here mentioned him before this window?
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Because it was previously thought there was no way he'd leave Southampton, especially since signing a new deal last season.

Now, it apparently seems like a possibly as the rumor is that Fonte is keen for a move. It was also reported that when he signed his new deal that there was a gentleman's agreement between him and the club that if a certain level bid came for him, he would be allowed to leave.
 
Summit said:
Then why has no one on here mentioned him before this window?
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I think as well, generally on here you notice players at smaller clubs, unless they're seen as promising youngsters tend to get written off quite hastily, Mane for example when we were first linked with him, posters on here were throwing themselves off bridges, but I think most who reguarly watch Southampton games do tend to rate Fonte as one of their better players.
 
Would this mean that we would the best 4th choice CB in the league? I am down.
 
RedCurry said:
Would this mean that we would the best 4th choice CB in the league? I am down.
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We need to wait until Wenger gets linked with him in the Daily Mail. That way when we sign him, Wenger will say he was close.
 
Still trying to work out why we're so heavily linked with him.

Wouldnt he be 4th in pecking order after Bailly, Smalling and Blind? If so, why leave Southampton when youre first choice and captain. Doesnt make sense.

Only way I can see it being true is if, as I said before, Jose doesnt see Blind as a long term centre back, despite him being excellent there, and wants to rotate him at left back with Shaw, therefore, getting rid of Rojo and Jones and replacing them with Fonte.

Our options would then be:

Bailly Smalling
Fonte Blind
 
Walters_19_MuFc said:
Still trying to work out why we're so heavily linked with him.

Wouldnt he be 4th in pecking order after Bailly, Smalling and Blind? If so, why leave Southampton when youre first choice and captain. Doesnt make sense.
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Two reasons.

Firstly he's a professional footballer, a well paying Manchester United contract at this age will set him up for life. It'd be a huge pay rise and dramatically increase his sponsorship opportunities

Secondly, I'm sure he's confident about his abilities and would fancy his chances to get a place in the team and hold it.
 
foolsgold said:
Two reasons.

Firstly he's a professional footballer, a well paying Manchester United contract at this age will set him up for life. It'd be a huge pay rise and dramatically increase his sponsorship opportunities

Secondly, I'm sure he's confident about his abilities and would fancy his chances to get a place in the team and hold it.
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Interesting insight into the world of football transfers. A real eye opener.
 
nevillestache said:
Would be nice to add a bit more defensive experience to the squad but clearly not an essential transfer.
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Would you say experience is something that comes with age or with actually playing at the highest level? As I'd argue a player like Varane is quite a bit more experienced than Fonte, if we look at games played in the champions league and world cup. Saying that, Jones has also more international and champions league caps than Fonte. I feel like most people who keep mentioning experience is simply basing that off Fonte's age, when the reality is he's never played at a "big" club and the Euros that just finished was by far his biggest set of games in his career. Saying that, I wouldn't mind getting Fonte, as I feel our centre back's bar Blind are very rash.
 
Can't see us getting in Fonte + Fabinho. Fonte could be like the Blind deal where lvg referred to as a deal that could be done pretty much instantly, Soton might poster but £8m for a 32 yr old who has a lot of credit in the bank should get this one over the line.

Fabinho, right now look a little trickier and with Valencia's welcome upturn in form doesn't seem wholly necessary.
 
I don't want us to sign any more new players this summer.
 
United Pro said:
Would you say experience is something that comes with age or with actually playing at the highest level? As I'd argue a player like Varane is quite a bit more experienced than Fonte, if we look at games played in the champions league and world cup. Saying that, Jones has also more international and champions league caps than Fonte. I feel like most people who keep mentioning experience is simply basing that off Fonte's age, when the reality is he's never played at a "big" club and the Euros that just finished was by far his biggest set of games in his career. Saying that, I wouldn't mind getting Fonte, as I feel our centre back's bar Blind are very rash.
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Clearly you gain experience from playing games at the highest level, even if you're only in your early to mid twenties. Players will also gain a certain defensive savviness with age and that comes playing week in week out over a number of years.

TBH I'm basing the idea of signing him on the central defenders we have currently and factoring in that Rojo and Jones may not actually be part of the squad or may be injured for lengthy spells. Bailly looks great, Smalling will play a big part and Blind looks like he can develop even further in the role but other than that, we may only have Tuanzebe and TFM to provide central defensive cover. Those two youngsters are absolute class but we may need some older heads in the squad too.

To buy an experienced defender in terms of games at the highest level, is going to be almost impossible now, especially if they're not going to be a first choice in the centre. Someone like Fonte could bring experience without kicking up a fuss at not being first choice.

As already stated, it's not an essential transfer, it just gives Mourinho another option.
 
nevillestache said:
Clearly you gain experience from playing games at the highest level, even if you're only in your early to mid twenties. Players will also gain a certain defensive savviness with age and that comes playing week in week out over a number of years.

TBH I'm basing the idea of signing him on the central defenders we have currently and factoring in that Rojo and Jones may not actually be part of the squad or may be injured for lengthy spells. Bailly looks great, Smalling will play a big part and Blind looks like he can develop even further in the role but other than that, we may only have Tuanzebe and TFM to provide central defensive cover. Those two youngsters are absolute class but we may need some older heads in the squad too.

To buy an experienced defender in terms of games at the highest level, is going to be almost impossible now, especially if they're not going to be a first choice in the centre. Someone like Fonte could bring experience without kicking up a fuss at not being first choice.

As already stated, it's not an essential transfer, it just gives Mourinho another option.
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Yeah I agree. I'm just not so sure that Fonte is much better than Jones if he gets back to fitness (which is of course a big if). Fonte may well be an amazing signing who helps develop some of the younger lads, so I can't really be against his signing.
 
United Pro said:
Yeah I agree. I'm just not so sure that Fonte is much better than Jones if he gets back to fitness (which is of course a big if). Fonte may well be an amazing signing who helps develop some of the younger lads, so I can't really be against his signing.
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I agree with the last part - Yes Fonte might help develop some of our younger defenders.
 
Not sure why we need him. We have more than adequate depth in the squad; he will only steal minutes from youngsters, and I'm not sure he's an upgrade on Blind. Also, he's just a little too slow and old.
 
Absolutely don't need this guy. I hope Blind has convinced Mourinho that he's more than reliable as a backup or rotational CB. Fully expect Smalling-Bailly to be the starting CBs
 
Africa Cup of Nations will take Bailly away for up to 3 weeks. Just imagine if Smalling and Jones are injured. Based on past seasons, this is not implausible at all.

3 weeks of Blind and Rojo/TFM? I know some of us here rate TFM (myself included) highly, but do we really, really want to be in this position in January? I'd rather have Fonte than not. In any case, am also pretty sure Jones will be out the moment he agrees to a move.
 
Surely all this is press BS? haven't seen anything concrete and I would have thought we would move for him after the Southampton game.

Maybe we had him lined up if Jones was leaving, but now he isn't I have my doubts.
 
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