Everton have reportedly offered £9m to sign Southampton defender Jose Fonte, with Ronald Koeman seeking a reunion with the Manchester United target.
The Dutch tactician knows the Euro 2016 winner well from their time together at Southampton, and he now appears hopeful of taking him to Goodison Park after sealing his own move to Merseyside last month.
According to The Daily Record, Koeman is essentially preparing for the exit of John Stones to Manchester City, and has identified the experienced Saints star as the perfect replacement.
However, as noted in the report, that in turn will be a potential blow to Jose Mourinho, who has also been linked with making a move for his compatriot this summer as he looks to shore up the United defence.
The 32-year-old has a wealth of experience and knowledge to bring to any team that he opts to join, and so it’s no real surprise to see him linked with various clubs around England and Europe.
While he’s said to be keen on working with Koeman again, as noted by The Record, the offer hasn’t been ‘communicated’ to him by Southampton and so there is no suggestion that a deal is imminent.
Having played an influential role in the club’s rise up to the Premier League and in their ability to stay there for the past four years, Fonte has proven himself to be a reliable presence for the Saints and his exit will undoubtedly be a major blow for the club.
However, that is exactly why Mourinho has singled him out and why Koeman wants to work with him again, and so if the former wishes to take him to Old Trafford ahead of the new campaign, he’ll have to move quickly.
It’s added in the report that United are looking to offload the likes of Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Matteo Darmian if the right offers come in, and so perhaps they will be delayed with that before approaching Southampton.