Three players who could replace Fonte at Southampton

Southampton fans were left shocked on Thursday after the news had broken that club captain Jose Fonte has handed in a transfer request.

The 33-year-old Portuguese international was an instrumental part of the Portugal side that lifted the European Championship trophy last summer.

Fonte joined the Saints in January 2010 and has played over 250 games for the club in the last seven years.

The defender was part of the team that won consecutive promotions; moving them from League One to the Premiership in the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons.

Fonte became club captain in August 2014. In that time, the club has finished sixth in the top flight; their highest league position since the 1984/85 season.

Their sixth placed finish from last season awarded them their first Europa League group stage qualification since the 2003/04 season.

With the club veteran heading out of St Marys stadium, SHOOT! looks at three possible replacements that Claude Puel should be targeting in the January transfer window.