Southampton open to selling star defender to Manchester United in January

Ever since his impressive performance for Portugal at Euro 2016, Southampton's Jose Fonte has been attracting a lot interest from some of the top Premier League teams, including Manchester United and Everton. The Portuguese international has just 18 months left on his current contract and with Southampton failing to agree a new deal with him over the summer, there is a good chance that he will leave in the next transfer window.

Jose Mourinho was keen to add his countryman to the United squad over the summer, but new Southampton boss Claude Puel was not ready to sell him at that point. However, with half the season almost over and with Fonte still not agreeing on a new contract, it looks like the Saints are ready to cash in on the defender, according to The Guardian.

At the moment, Manchester United are short on centre back's and with Chris Smalling out injured and Eric Bailly heading to the African Cup of Nations next month, Mourinho is poised to return for Fonte. Aged 32, the highly-rated defender will bring a lot of strength and experience to the United defence, something that has been missing from their team this season.

There has been a lot tension building up between Fonte and the Saints officials, who failed to mention that he had a €9 million bid from his former boss Ronald Koeman, who wanted him at Everton, rejected this summer. A plus point for Fonte here is that he shares the same agent as Mourinho in Jorge Mendes, who could help push through a deal to the Red Devils.

Fonte has been instrumental for Southampton over the years helping them achieve three consecutive promotions from the Football League One all the way to the Premier League. With the Portuguese slowly heading towards the twilight of his career, he will want to end it on a high. Manchester United have been long-term admirers and given their current situation they could do with a player of his calibre.