Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho told the media on Thursday that he is happy with his current squad of players.
But he did add the caveat that ‘the market is open until August 31st’.
And reports on Thursday suggest that Jose Fonte’s head has been turned and that he wants a move to Manchester United.
The Manchester Evening News reports:
Man Utd have been linked with Jose Fonte and the Southampton defender is keen to join Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.
He also knows United want him – subject to moving one of the existing defenders on – and he wants to work with his compatriot Jose Mourinho.
Let’s face it – it’s not exactly a revelation that a 32-year-old Portugal international (12 caps), whose biggest clubs hitherto have been Benfica and Southampton, would want to make a career-ending move to the big time.
Any professional in their right mind would fancy that.
TFF thinks that the bigger question is whether Jose would want the player.
At 32, the 6ft 2in stopper has bags of experience and we know that Jose has used veterans to great effect in some of his best vintages.
But we believe that the Manchester United boss will have been impressed by what he has seen from his current central defenders so far.
The Guardian wrote after Eric Bailly was signed that Jose intended to use Chris Smalling and Phil Jones as his first choice pairing – to start the season at least.
But Smalling hasn’t had a whiff of first team action yet – albeit due to injury and suspension – and Jones has only seen a few fleeting minutes in pre-season.
In their absence, Eric Bailly has been imperious, snarling, quick and commanding – showing maturity way beyond his years. And Daley Blind has offered the perfect complement to Bailly’s brawn with his measured approach and cultured left foot.
With Marcos Rojo and Timothy Fosu-Mensah also able to play centre back Manchester United have 6 good options already. 7 if you throw the emergency services of the brilliant Michael Carrick in there.
Carrick apart, they are all 26 or younger but we believe that the early season form of the defender used means that if Jose does invest, it may be at right back rather than in the centre.