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Man United on red alert for Premier League defender: Tensions high between club and player
MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly ready to pounce for Jose Fonte after fresh contract talks with Southampton broke down.
Jose Fonte - 5 things you need to know
Manchester United are in the hunt for a new centre-back.
Jose Mourinho has made it a top priority as they are short at the back with Chris Smalling out injured, while Eric Bailly will head off to the Africa Cup of Nations next month.
Fonte has been mooted as a possible target, and Saints are also facing a battle to keep hold of Virgil van Dijk, who has been the subject of interest from Liverpool and Everton.
Jose Fonte has yet to sign a new deal with Southampton
Jose Mourinho is keen to sign a defender
The south coast outfit offered Fonte an £80,000-a-week deal after Portugal won Euro 2016.
But The Sun claim Fonte has yet to put pen to paper on a new deal, and there are growing fears he could leave, even though he has 18 months left to run on his contract.
It is believed tensions are almost at boiling point between the player and the club hierarchy, who didn’t tell the 32-year-old that a £9m bid was submitted by Everton last summer.
Claude Puel has failed to give Jose Fonte reassurances over his future
Moreover, with the defender and Mourinho both represented by super-agent Jorge Mendes, this could help push a deal over the line for the Red Devils.
Fonte, who started in the 3-0 defeat away to Crystal Palace on Saturday, has missed just one league game this term.
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