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Jose Fonte Set To Leave West Ham !

Very much in the category of "Should Never have left Southampton" a club that grows bigger by the year, Jose Fonte is set to leave West Ham after barely a year with the London club.

At the start of last season Jose Fonte looked set to have a fine end to a long career at Saints, but after returning to St Mary's with A European Championship winners medal with Portugal, it seemed his head had been turned and there seemed to be a big money deal in the offing with his agent Jose Mendes trying to crowbar him into his other client's squad at Manchester United.

But Saints held firm and Fonte went from Saints Captain to disruptive influence and still forced a move even though Saints were in A League Cup semi final and he could have been in the team.

There was something strange about why West Ham were willing to pay £8 million for his services and that was confirmed when West Ham co owner David Sullivan criticised both Fonte and then West Ham manager Slavan Bilic.

That signalled the end for Bilic and now it looks likely Fonte himself will leave the Hammers after only 24 Premier League appearances many of them criticised by West Ham fans who have remained completely underwhelmed by his performances in the claret and blue.

But at 34 Fonte may have thrown away the chance of a glittering end to a career in England, he is about to improve his bank balance with West Ham recouping around £4.5 million in transfer fees and the former Saints getting a big pay day with a move to Chinese club Dalian Jifang.

That means that each of Fonte's Premier League appearances for the Hammers cost them £333,333 plus plus his not inconsideable wages although that first amount will reduce depending on how much of the transfer fee West Ham get.

For Saints fans it is a sorry end and the tale of what drives modern players, these days too many chase money and that is why so many players have left St Mary's, Fonte is an example of why perhaps Saints have had no choice in many of the departures, it is not about loyalty or even the chance of glory, it is about money.

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