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 !

Photo: Action Images

SonicBoom added 10:17 - Dec 2 Well VvD is linked with United on the back page of the Mirror today so there's that. He's also linked with City on the back page of the Mail. I would imagine that United fans would be underwhelmed when they see the furore around Virgil and yet they end up with Fonte. Can't see that going down well. It looks for all the world that we are deliberately not playing Fonte in Europe, initially to protect him due to his age, but as you say Nick, we will see next week. i don't expect him to play and I also expect Puel will take another chance by rotating the squad.

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perazi added 10:31 - Dec 2 This reminds me in part of the Ricky Lambert situation, in so far as Fonte, like Lambert before him, has got to stage in his career where there are not many miles left on the clock. If the Man U interest is real, you could hardly blame Fonte for wanting a last big payout and some possible European glory. For SFC, when you take the emotion out of it, the sale of Jose to Man U for a tidy sum would be great business with the prospect of a younger player like Wimmer joining for a lesser fee seeming great business.

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SaintNick added 10:45 - Dec 2 i agree totally with perazi
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IWOZTHERE added 11:02 - Dec 2 Without doubt Jose is a Saints Legend. However, Tempus Fugit and he creaks a bit when up against a young, strong attacker so I wouldn't be too upset if he wanted to go, (with our thanks). VVD is different, he should be the future.As far as I know there is no financial pressure to sell . Even cynics like me still have dreams, but for me to keep mine, the club will have to 'dig their heels in' next summer over Virgil unless there is a release clause. Even if his head is turned and he throws a tantrum (which I doubt). Even if he has to be left out short term because of it, he'd still be worth big money long term, so no excuses for not fighting to keep him.

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PatfromPoole added 11:11 - Dec 2 My understanding is that the local press have not been allowed by the Club to speak to Fonte since the start of the season, as they know that the first question he will be asked is if he is going to leave.
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corkcitysaint added 11:57 - Dec 2 We all know contracts mean nothing anyway so why does he not just sign? I assume when he does, he will get the bigger pay packet. Ok, by signing the current offer, it gives us (the club) more say in transfer matters but if we get a tidy offer, we all know (including Fonte..) that he'll be sold. Is this too simplistic a view?? As for playing against Happoel, I imagine Puel will stick with Yosh.

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dirk_doone added 12:17 - Dec 2 And so, Nick's monotonous campaign against Fonte wages on. It's ironic that the picture above, which has to be one of Nick's favourites, features Man United' leading goalscorer, Irbrahimovic, who is 2 years older than Fonte. Jose Fonte won a European championship winner's medal this summer and is one of the best central defenders in Europe at the peak of his career. Fonte and van Dijk is arguably the best central defensive pairing in the Premier League and the main reason for our success in recent years. no wonder United want Fonte. What doesn't make any sense is why any real Saints fan would want to get rid of him and replace him with a second-rate Sours reject like Wimmer. that would mean the end of Saints watertight defence. For the sake of our club i hope you don't get your wish Nick and see Fonte sold to Man United.

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surreysaint added 13:05 - Dec 2 My issue with letting Fonte leave goes beyond football. He's an excellent centre half for sure, but he's not Cannavaro. He is replaceable as a footballer. What would concern me more is the captaincy thing - on the field and off it. i have read several interviews with newly arrived Saints players who mentioned Jose specifically as a huge help in settling them into the area and the club. Jose and his Mrs have the newbies round for dinner, Jose makes sure they are not sat alone in a hotel room after training, he sets the standard and expectations around training that the young kids look up to. He's a huge part of the culture that has been so good for so long. If (and it is an if: it's only my impression) that stuff is true then that is much harder to replace - even more so than a very, very good centre half.

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schatfield added 13:34 - Dec 2 He has old person legs and Puel wants to rotate with the Prem too. I think thats all it is. (saying that, I do wonder if Fonte is happy to be kept out of Europe given how much he said he was looking forward to it last season)
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SaintBrock added 14:16 - Dec 2 Jose has not suddenly become old and slow as some here would have us believe, a couple of games a week is no hardship for any pro footballer including Jose. I doubt his contract situation has much to do with it and a move to Man U is fanciful and borderline impossible. Jose 's absences have more to do with Puel and his fixation on rotation and developing your players on which his job depends. Every manager has his favourites and conversely bets noir and my guess is Jose isn't flavour of the month with Puel for some reason we'll never know. Perhaps Puel wanted him to relinquish the captaincy to allow Vvd to take over ? Who knows?

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steve73 added 14:48 - Dec 2 Why do fans go on and on about 'a good bit of business' or 'snatching their hand off' if such and such amount is offered. So long as the club is financially healthy and operates responsibly I don't really care, I just want to see the best players possible in a Saints shirt. And Fonte is certainly one of them. Replacing him with someone and making a tidy profit is not actually something to be celebrated. Not by us anyway.

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