Ronald Koeman's Everton are rumoured to have lodged a £9 miilion pound bid for Saints Euro 2016 winning central defender Jose Fonte.

Hot on the heels of the rumour that Manchester United were interested in buying Jose Fonte comes one that suggests that Everton have earmarked Fonte to replace the soon to depart John Stones.

Several media outlets are saying that the bid is £9 million !!!!

That would be an incredible price for a player who will turn 33 in December and if it turns out to be true will surely test Saints resolve.

The dilemma for Saints would be that £9 million would be a big fee for a player of Fonte's age and as good as he has been over the past years for Saints, age will catch up on him as it does for everyone, so should Saints cash in now and use the money in part to replace Fonte or should they keep the Portugese defender and see how many more years they can get out of him ?

Saints supporters would be squarely in the camp to keep him, they would feel that too many players have left already from last years squad and although it has in the main been good business for the club, one more would be a step too far.

So what do you think, post your comments below and vote in our poll using the link below.

http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/forum/176164/if-saints-receive

Photo: Action Images

leighsaint added 22:17 - Jul 31 Tell them to add another 30 million and we might considered it if they include Lukaka as well
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dirk_doone added 22:28 - Jul 31 You are right, leighsaint. For a player who is currrently one of the best central defenders in the world and at the peak of his game, that would be a more realistic valuation. Only an idiot would value him at less than 10 million. Central defenders are at their best in their early 30s, which is why Real Madrid have 33-year-old Pepe at the heart of their defence and why all of the top clubs in the Premier League would love to have Fonte in their team.

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Jesus_02 added 22:34 - Jul 31 Fonte is pretty much priceless for saints, and I'm not even sure that he would go to Man U let alone Everton. He will have his day but god let it be at Porto or Lisbon like anyone who has any sentiment for the game would wish.
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dirk_doone added 22:41 - Jul 31 Yes, he is one of the greatest players we've ever had: the defensive equivalent of Le Tissier. He's not only a European champion and world class player but he's stuck with us through thick and thin and his positive influence on all of the players around him is, as you say, priceless.
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PatfromPoole added 22:48 - Jul 31 No brainer. No way can we let him go. Particularly to Koeman's lot.
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SonicBoom added 22:51 - Jul 31 Surely we need our experienced centre back and captain more than we need the 9 million.
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ElSanto added 22:53 - Jul 31 Nick, if you think losing 10 million for keeping Wanyama an extra year was worth it - a move that might have gained us 1/2 places in the league - then, Fonte's is definitely worth it. For a team with a new manager and players it's imperative we keep these kind of players.
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BUCK added 23:14 - Jul 31 I wouldn't blame fonte if he was offered 100 grand a week. One final payday before he retires.
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dirk_doone added 23:40 - Jul 31 Are Real Madrid fans saying the same about 33-year-old Pepe or were Chelsea fans saying the same about John Terry when he was in his early 30s? Of course not. They were trying to win trophies. Only a fool pays to watch a bank account grow when it doesn't even belong to him.
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BoondockSaint added 00:00 - Aug 1 Nick are you having fun winding us up? 9 Million is a joke!! Fonte is worth his weight in gold to Saints in so many ways. I have always figured that when he retired he would work for Saints coaching, directing player personnel or managing. If he was to go to ManU, OK, after all the players that were sold by Saints, we are not competing with them, but Everton is trying to move up the table by weakening a team that would be one of their rivals in mid-table. No one in this club has played harder, cared more, than Fonte-not Cortese, not Pardew, not Atkins, not Pochettino, not Koeman, and certainly not Les Reed!!

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abingdonsaint added 00:05 - Aug 1 No dilemma here at all. There are also reports that Jose is to be offered an improved contract, and as long as he wants to stay, and I'd be surprised if he didn't after coming this far, that is obviously the correct option. Whilst a lot of money for a 33 year old in broad terms, it's peanuts for a player who is so important to us on and off the pitch. Be amazed if Saints even entertain the idea!

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kenis added 00:11 - Aug 1 Any young ready replacement is going to be £25m plus, and if he existed that's who Everton or Man Utd would be buying it doesn't make financial sense to sell him and take the risk. Better to keep him and buy the young unknown version to be schooled internally and be ready in 2-3 years when Fonte can't play twice every week. However the club will be powerless if he - or even VVD - want to leave and any player is being offered 50% plus pay increases and a realistic chance to win the league or another domestic trophy. I want him to stay but it will be down to him.

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DPeps added 06:45 - Aug 1 Under different circumstances this might be a good deal. If we had a direct replacement already in the squad, if we had lots of other leaders on the pitch, if we hadn't already sold our best midfielder and our most reliable striker, if Fonte was on the wane... then selling might be good business. Yes, Fonte is 33 but he's getting better season on season. Of course, that improvement will end at some point but no reason to expect will happen this coming season. £9 million is derisory and, as others have noted, selling would be a false economy because we'd have to shell out at least £15mill to replace.

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simmo400 added 07:07 - Aug 1 If true i'm 100% sure Saints will cash in.
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SanMarco added 08:33 - Aug 1 Good opportunity for the club to show that they can say "no" to a "cash-in". The Echo are reporting that he is being offered a new contract. As always it will be difficult if he makes it clear he wants to go but, as the unanimity of the comments show, this would be a stupid thing for Saints to say yes to. It would show to the world that we see the price of everything and the value of nothing...

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LeTissIwish added 09:13 - Aug 1 Jose is a Saint through and through, oh ye of little faith. This guy ain't going anywhere else soon, let alone to Everton. I can't even imagine he would do that to a club he so obviously loves, I would love to see him playing for us until it's time to involve him in coaching.
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anthony85uk added 12:11 - Aug 1 Losing Jose would be a travesty, jose has said he would go IF a top top club offered him a good deal, but losing him to everton would be a step too far, Pella to china was a good deal for 2 reasons Strikers we have a few of and to china is not a concern Losing Jose to Everton would be a strengthening a direct opponent and for 9mill we could not replace like for like Jose is the last player from the league one days and the clubs captain and hero and he stands for a lot for the fans over the years If he does go please may it be a top club team but really what I would like is business pushed aside especially the joke 9 million offer and Jose offered a good deal and stay until retirement

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pintsizedsaint added 14:05 - Aug 1 DId anybody get a chance to read Four Four Two's expose into transfer rumors and the like? Very interesting stuff. After reading that, I wouldn't be too surprised if the Everton/Man U link is being made by Fonte's agent. Link that to the Daily Echo's piece today about contract extensions and you have the following: "9m Everton Bid" = Agent saying Fonte should get a payrise after winning the Euros "Contract extension" = SFC saying, fair dues lets come to a deal.

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pintsizedsaint added 14:05 - Aug 1 DId anybody get a chance to read Four Four Two's expose into transfer rumors and the like? Very interesting stuff. After reading that, I wouldn't be too surprised if the Everton/Man U link is being made by Fonte's agent. Link that to the Daily Echo's piece today about contract extensions and you have the following: "9m Everton Bid" = Agent saying Fonte should get a payrise after winning the Euros "Contract extension" = SFC saying, fair dues lets come to a deal.

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