West Ham close in on Fonte deal

West Ham are close to taking Jose Fonte from Southampton to the London Stadium.

According to Sky Sports the Hammers are in advanced talks to sign the Saints defender who put in a transfer request at the start of the month.

Manchester United and Everton have been strongly linked with Fonte but it seems that West Ham are at the front of the queue converting talk into action.

Slaven Bilic has seen a number of bids rejected during the transfer window but if terms can be agreed with the player Fonte could soon be moving to London.

Southampton have refused to consider extending the 33-year-old’s contract beyond June 2018 but a wage rise and a two and a half year deal should satisfy Fonte who joined Southampton in 2010 from Crystal Palace.

The arrival of Forte will also take some of the spotlight away from Dimitri Payet who has refused to train after West Ham rejected an offer from Marseilles for the French internationalist.