Man Utd to make late raid for Jose Fonte

Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho will wait until deadline day before lodging an attempt to sign Southampton centre-back Jose Fonte. The Saints are for now reluctant to let go of the Portugal international.

The 'Special One' has finished much of his transfer business well before the new league season with the likes of Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly coming in for a combined £145m fee whilst Zlatan Ibrahimovic joined on a Bosman.

According to the Manchester Evening News, United will test the Saints' resolve on August 31 with Mourinho still keen on getting his hands on Fonte.

Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly have been impressive in the opening league fixtures for United, but the need for an experienced back-up has brought Fonte onto the club's radar.

United currently rate Fonte in the £8m range, but Southampton are likely to demand more, should they cash in on their player this month.

AS Monaco right-back Fabinho has also been linked with a potential move to United with Matteo Darmian set to call quits on his Old Trafford career.