Manchester United have reportedly held informal talks with Southampton over the potential signing of centre-back Jose Fonte.Thats according to ESPNFCs Miguel Delaney, who added a bid for the player is likely to follow in the coming week. Manager Jose Mourinho is said to be intent on signing an experienced defensive leader and the Portuguese feels Fonte is the best and most realistic option at this point.Delaney continued, adding that United have been met with resistance in pursuit of Juventus Leonardo Bonucci and Real Madrids Raphael Varane.In Fonte, United would not only be getting an experienced leader, theyd also be securing a player thats already cut his teeth in English football. Additionally, the 32-year-old is in the form of his life at the moment, having played a key role in Portugals success at the UEFA European Championship this summer.At Saints hes been a linchpin at the base of the team for many years, having joined from Crystal Palace in 2010. Sports journalist Liam Canning thinks having missed out on the biggest names, Fonte would be a smart signing:Its a possible deal not without its down sides. Southampton would surely want a sizeable fee if they are to lose such a key part of their squad, and some tied to United would be wary about paying big for a defender who turns 33 in December. Fonte, arguably, is not an enormous upgrade on current options in this area either.However, the Red Devils do lack an experienced communicator at the back to complement the likes of Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling. Fonte showed he could fulfil that kind of role at the highest level at the Euros and would surely relish the Old Trafford challenge at this stage in his career.Memphis Depay BackedMourinho is adamant Memphis Depay has a future at Old Trafford despite his tough debut term at the club.The winger arrived last summerwith a stellar reputation having excelled during the 2014-15 campaign for PSV Eindhoven. However, Depay struggled under former coach Louis van Gaal and was pushed to the periphery of the United squad come the end of the campaign.Naturally, there have been concerns about his future at the club as a result; Mourinho, per Steve Bates of the Sunday People(via the Sunday Mirror), cleared up the players status:I dont want to go into last season too much, but I know the player Ive watched at PSV and the World Cup two years ago when he was a very young kid. Having that player in mind, I want to keep him. And I believe in him, yes. Especially as I see a good boy, a good kid, a good professional. I dont care what people think.You can see him driving a nice car and you think this guy is not thinking about football, but that is not the case. He is frustrated with what happened last season, where he lost all confidence. But he will be back.Goals Peter McVitie agrees with that assessment and thinks some of the conclusions drawn about the Dutchman after a season in England are harsh:As noted by Bates, speculation emerged when Mourinho was appointed that Depays flyaway style may not mesh well with the pragmatic principles of his new manager. Indeed, United have strengthened their attacking options this offseason, with Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to contest spots in the side.Depay, still just 22, has the talent to force his way into the team, although he needs to show greater application in other facets of his game.Mourinho may be a manager who can bring some consistency to the wingers play should the player take instructions on board.Hell have to bide his time, take his chances when they come and impress the new manager behind the scenes; that way Depay can harness his excellent natural talent and thrive in the Premier League.
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