Jose Fonte hands in Southampton transfer request

Southampton director of football Les Reed has revealed that club captain Jose Fonte has rejected the offer of a new contract and has asked to leave this month.

The 33-year-old, heavily linked with a switch to Manchester United last summer, is now into the final 18 months of his current deal.

Reports in the British press recently suggested that the Portugal international has been made available to purchase, but Reed insists that this is not the case and the club were hopeful of trying him down to fresh terms.

Fonte is unhappy at St Mary's Stadium and is keen to now move on, however, having made a total of 19 appearances for the Saints this season in all competitions.

"He's had several opportunities to improve the contract situation. He's reserved his right not to do that," Reed told BBC Sport. "He's made it very clear he would like to explore the opportunities for a transfer.

"That's where we are at the moment, Jose wants to leave the club. He's formally asked for a transfer. What was offered to Jose was, in my view, quite significant off the back of the contract he signed in October 2015.

"Six months later we were prepared to improve that contract and extend it. He has turned down the opportunity to increase his salary, and he's turned down the opportunity to get another permanent year on his contract."

Fonte joined Southampton from Crystal Palace in 2010, making a total of 288 appearances for the club - the most recent being in the 3-0 defeat to Everton last Monday.