05 Jan 2017 16:14:00
So Fonte has handed in a transfer request.

Where could he be off to? One of the best defenders and most consistent defenders in the league. I will be absolutely gutted if he leaves.

{Ed002's Note - You might want to listen to the Manchester United Sharkoipod from a couple of weeks ago.}

1.) 05 Jan 2017
05 Jan 2017 16:40:59
Just read it as " " on BBC. Final out of the pram then. He isn't focused and his legs are really going this season. If we can truly get £7M or so I wouldn't be gutted - as long as we get a replacement in.

Ed002, did u mean podcast? Can you link it for us? Can you also confirm he's going, where to (seems obv MU), and price as you probably know already. Any news on replacement would also be appreciated. Cheers.

{Ed002's Note - It is a Sharkopod - Podcasts are for wimps. You would need to go to the Manchester United page and search. I am far from suprised about Fonte and have explained on these pages before. So that could be both centre backs off this winter then.}

2.) 05 Jan 2017
05 Jan 2017 17:19:23
If both CB's were to leave. We'd get relegated. There are no two ways about it. We wouldn't have enough time to sign two new CB's and get them to play at the quality of Fonte and VVD.
It's gutting because we probably have one of the best defences in the league.

3.) 05 Jan 2017
05 Jan 2017 17:27:29
Club want 13 million.

{Ed001's Note - for those looking for the Sharkopod, the easiest is probably to go to football-news-views.co.uk then click on the podcast tab. All the Sharkopods are there. Alternatively click this link to go to the page directly. (if I did it right anyway!)}

4.) 05 Jan 2017
05 Jan 2017 18:53:07
Can't see why we would sell both our cb's half way through the season.

5.) 05 Jan 2017
05 Jan 2017 21:55:08
It's all about money as far as the board is concerned especially if Virgil asks to go. The point has been made many times before that we have got away with selling our best players and replacing them with similar or better. We haven't done that this time and we will be punished if we think our academy can sort the problem out, they can't. The PL these days is a different ball game to what is was 3 years ago, to stay in it you have to invest in quality players . We don't do that so hard times ahead unless they see sense. I like me Puel but he is the wrong man for the job, seems obvious to me. We need an experienced PL manager to sort all this out. I mentioned Glenn Hoddle before, why not.

6.) 05 Jan 2017
05 Jan 2017 22:27:43
Glenn huddle has managed in the premier league for donkeys years. He's out of touch with managing in the current league. Dalglish went back to Liverpool after so many years, benitez at newcastle. Need I say more? I have heard rumours about pellegrini but there's no evidence behind it.

7.) 06 Jan 2017
05 Jan 2017 23:47:23
Chris u make a good point but then ruin it with talk of huddle. When was the last time he even managed. And how succesfull was he? . tbh, who else is available that would come in and do a better job than puel? . I'm not happy with the way we're playing or the rotation. but maybe he does need some time. do we have enough to time for him to learn though?

8.) 06 Jan 2017
05 Jan 2017 17:52:41
Ed do you have any insight on who we might replace him with?

{Ed002's Note - It depends to some extent what happens with van Dijk. I said before that Southampton may look to Wimmer and Doria may provide an option. A loan might be something to be considered as well.}

9.) 06 Jan 2017
05 Jan 2017 18:30:09
Cheers, very helpful even if not great news. Link works perfectly.

Any news on potential incomings? Couldn't see one of these Sharkopods for Saints.

{Ed002's Note - There is nothing really new on incomings (Gabbiadini remains of interest) except that you can strike Nemanja Gudelj off the list - he is moving to China. There has not been a Sharkopod done for Southampton.}

10.) 06 Jan 2017
06 Jan 2017 12:02:27
if he goes Manchester United we should take spider back in the deal

11.) 06 Jan 2017
06 Jan 2017 12:25:01
Read today on Sky Sports that Fonte will only leave if we can find a replacement.

Do you think that Southampton will look for a replacement or do you think we would try to persuade him to stay until the end of the season as we did with Schneiderlin?

{Ed002's Note - The club will be aware that Fonte has had his head turned and as they have not offered him a new contract he has to look at other options - so this is not a shock. However, there is no offer on the table for him right now as I understand it. Manchester United have shown an interest and I have explained that I would not be suprised if they made a bid. I have also said that much depends on what happens with van Dijk as it could force the club in to looking at buying someone like Wimmer and then perhaps looking to a loan of Sakho or another. Southampton will fight to hang on to van Dijk amid interest from Chelsea and, possibly, Manchester City.}

12.) 06 Jan 2017
06 Jan 2017 15:11:49
Thanks Eds.

Don't think Manchester United will be a good move for him. Simple because I don't like the way Mourhino treats his players. I don't see him being a member of the first team. I might be wrong, I know that United have defense problems and have struggled to cement 2 solid CB's since Vidic and Ferdinand. I've been reading as well on social media that the United fans would rather sign Lindelof

{Ed002's Note - I have explained all of this already.}

13.) 06 Jan 2017
06 Jan 2017 15:27:45
Reports say that he has been offered a contract and he has refused. Also if van dijk wants to leave let him go. take the reported 60m. spend 30m on dembele from celtic and possibly bid for spider and see if we could temp terry his experience would be great for the likes of stephens. we create a lot of chances but can't score. think we should have replaced pele and mane. also we have a keeper who is 6ft 8 who should command his area and win everything in the air but he doesnt. beyond me.

{Ed002's Note - My understanding is that there has been no contract offered to him. Dembele won't be moving to Southampton, nor will "spider" and nor will John Terry.}

14.) 06 Jan 2017
06 Jan 2017 15:58:05
The trouble is I can't see anyone coming of note until the club has been sold. Maybe you can shed some light on this i. e is it still up for sale? Not paper talk but the last I heard it has been on the market for sometime.

{Ed002's Note - The Southampton owners had discussions with Lander as I previously explained but it came to nothing at that point as (a) Lander valued the club less than the owners, and (b) Lander would probably not be able to raise additional funds easily. If an attractive offer were made the club could be sold. It is entirely unrelated to transfers.}