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.

Winston Reid

The West Ham defender has had a very good campaign this season, despite the Hammers struggling.

The New Zealand captain has kept five clean sheets in his 17 league appearances this season. Reid currently has the fifth highest average match rating of any centre back in the league this season; Fonte however is 26^th on the league ranking.

In terms of defensive stats, Reid has been superior to Fonte this season. In this league campaign Fonte has a higher tackling average, less fouls conceded and fewer dribbles past him a game. However, Reid has a much higher interceptions per game average, more blocks per game, more offsides won per game and more clearances made per game.

The West Ham centre back would be a fantastic signing to go alongside Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk.

The only reason that may put Saints manager Claude Puel off of the New Zealand international is his potential cost. Reid’s contract at the London Stadium does not run out until the summer of 2021. Is Puel willing to buy Reid out of a potentially expensive contract?

Christopher Jullien

The Toulouse centre back is not necessarily a household name, but signing him could be another hidden gem to come out of French football.

The French defender has had an extremely impressive debut season in Ligue 1. Since arriving in Toulouse from SC Freiburg in the summer, Jullien has started 16 of his new sides 19 league games.

Jullien has kept four clean sheets so far in the league this season. He has also scored three league goals, as well as earning three man of the match awards. One of these awards was for his outstanding performance in Toulouse’s 2-0 victory against Paris Saint Germain in September.

Statistically, Jullien has the third highest average match rating of any centre back in France’s top flight. Only Saint-Etienne’s Loic Perrin and PSG’s Thiago Silva have outshone him this season.

Compared to Fonte, the young Frenchman has won more aerial duels, made more clearances and let fewer opposition players dribble past him this season. Jullien has also won three times as many offsides as Fonte has.

Fonte may have a superior tackling, interception and blocks average than the 23-year old, but Jullien’s significantly higher match rating shows just how much of an influence he has been this season.

Jullien is known for having an eye for goal after scoring nine league goals in 33 Ligue 2 appearances last season whilst on loan at Dijon.

The Frenchman’s contract may not be up until the middle of 2020, but will Puel be able to attract Jullien to the south coast with the bright lights of the Premier League on offer.

Michael Keane

The young Burnley centre back is already showing signs of just what he is capable of.

Keane has started all 20 of Burnley’s Premier League fixtures this season. He’s kept four clean sheets during that time with two of them coming against Liverpool and his former club Manchester United.

His form this season has been recognised by his national side. Keane earnt his first England call up in October but failed to appear in either of the two World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovenia.

Keane’s performances have left Fonte in the shadows when you compare the two this season. In a defensive sense, Fonte only betters Keane on his tackles per game average. In every other defensive category, Keane has looked far more impressive.

The 23 year-old only has 18 months left on his contract at Turf Moor, which could be a fantastic incentive for Southampton manager Puel to buy him at a good price.