With Jose Fonte yet to make a single appearance in the Europa League, speculation is once again rising about his future at the club.
This time last year Jose Fonte looked the one constant at Southampton Football Club, he had just signed a new deal taking him through to the summer of 2018 and all things looked rosy.
Then came the summer of 2016 and by the time he arrived back at St Mary's for the coming season two things had changed, he was now a European Championship winner and he had a new agent, Jorge Mendes arguably the most powerful agent in European football.
Saints of course had no need to do anything about Fonte's contract, he was tied up till he was approaching his 35th birthday on a good deal, but the club wanted to recognise the achievments of Fonte and so offered him a pay rise on his existing deal, on the face of it it seemed a no brainer for the Saints captain to sign, all it changed was that he got more money and who would turn that down.
But another thing had changed and that was Jorge Mendes big mate Jose Mourinho had been appointed Manchester United manager.
To the neutral observer it would initially seem that the situation at Old Trafford would have little bearing on Jose Fonte, after all United's hierarchy demand success, they hired Mourinho to do that and with all respect to Jose Fonte the demand at Old Trafford both in the boardroom and the stands is not a 33 year old central defender enjoying glory late in his career, but the cream of World football, Mourinho was expected to throw £30-40 million at his central defensive problem, not lose change on a short term option.
Indeed the big mystery is if they have been watching Fonte then surely they would have seen Van Dijk but there is not even a hint of a suggestion that they are after him, very strange !
Who am I to suggest that getting Jose Fonte to Old Trafford would undoubtedly make money for Jorge Mendes and that the friendship with Mourinho would smooth through any transfer, but if United are so desperate why aren't other club's ? Strange !
The speculation has continued even after Saints allegedly turned down United's offer and the contract for Fonte remains unsigned with the reason being given that it is only about the length, Fonte wants an extension and Saints quite rightly probably do not want one of their highest earners to be 35 years old.
Claude Puel felt obliged to answer questions on it ahead of the trip to Fonte's former club Crystal Palace.
"Jose has a contract and after I don’t speak about the contract of the players,” said Puel.
"It’s a story between the club and the player and this is private.”
He added: "I am happy with my squad and I want to develop every player.
"After one player with his contract, another player with another contract — this is the life of the relationship between the club and player.
"For me the most important is to stay with good concentration about our level and to prepare this difficult game against Crystal Palace.
"The news for me, the most important, is the game against Crystal Palace, it is not the situation of every player.”
The deal on the table would normally be the right one for both club and player, but it is not, why not ?
But as the January transfer window approaches the puzzling thing is that Fonte has not played a single minute of the 5 Europa League matches so far, although he has played in the first two League Cup games he missed the tie at Arsenal, he has not kicked a ball in anger in Europe, again strange given that he has spoken before about the Europa League being a "Dream" for both himself and the club.
The speculation is mounting that this is all linked to the contract situation that Fonte does not wish to be cup tied in the Europa League should he get a move to Old Trafford in January, that he feels that United have a good chance of winning the competition and does not wish to miss out.
This has not helped Saints nor the player.
So a big clue as to whether Fonte's future is at St Mary's or elsewhere is coming up and that is the game against Happoel Be'er Sheva next week, Saints cannot afford to concede a goal, the strongest defence is needed and that means playing both Fonte and Van Dijk, we will soon see were the priorities are.
However although undoubtedly United were a big attraction to Fonte back in the summer, things are changed now, Saints are in a League Cup semi final with a chance of winning a trophy and next week could find themselves in the last 32 of the Europa League, however at Old Trafford it is not all sweetness and light, Mourinho is under fire and although they too are in the League Cup semi's and the Europa League, this is not their priority, they sit 11 points behind leaders Chelsea in sixth place and 8 points behind Arsenal in 4th.
This is not acceptable to United, Champions League qualification is a minimum and if they miss out again that would make it 3 seasons out of the last 4 they have failed to qualify then Mourinho will be toast.
But back to the Fonte saga, the last week of the transfer windpw will be crucial, by then both United and Saints will know where they stand in not only the league but the cups, if Saints are out of all competitions they may well decide to cash in and bring in a younger model, but will Jose Mourinho still be at Old Trafford ? I would not put much money on it at present, things are not working out and if he goes the rumours of Fonte to Manchester United will end overnight, every journalist in the land being briefed on this one knows why !