Transfer Centre

Jose Mourinho 'to wait until deadline day for Jose Fonte'

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief | 24 August 2016

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will reportedly wait until deadline day to launch one final bid for Southampton centre-back Jose Fonte.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly prepared to wait until transfer deadline day in order to push through a deal for Southampton defender Jose Fonte.

The Red Devils completed most of their summer business before the start of the new Premier League season, splashing out around £145m on players such as Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly, as well as securing the services of Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Mourinho still has interest in Fonte despite the Saints' reluctance to sell but will wait until August 31 to test their resolve with a final bid.

The 32-year-old is rated at £8m and would add experience to the United back four, although Mourinho is thought to have been impressed by the performances of Bailly and Chris Smalling in the first games of the season and is consequently more relaxed about making a defensive addition.

United have also been credited with an interest in Juventus's Portuguese defender Leonardo Bonucci.