MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 22:57:50| >> :120:45094:45094:

Claude Puel: 'Jose Fonte exit best for both parties'

Puel: 'Fonte exit best for both parties'
© SilverHub
Southampton manager Claude Puel insists that Jose Fonte's January exit from the club was the best solution for both parties, despite failing to bring in a replacement.

Southampton manager Claude Puel has insisted that the decision to allow Jose Fonte to leave the club during the January transfer window was a mutually beneficial one.

The 33-year-old handed in a transfer request in order to push through a move to West Ham United last month, eventually joining the London club for £8m.

Fonte's exit looks particularly costly for Southampton after they also lost Virgil van Dijk to a long-term injury, but Puel believes that it was the right decision for both parties.

"It's difficult. I think it was the last opportunity for a last contract for Jose. I understand the player, he wanted a big contract, and I understand the position of the club for the future," he told reporters.

"I think it was the best position for both parties. Of course we wanted to replace him and now we are unhappy with the injury of Virgil. We worked hard but could not find a solution.

"It's different because Jose is not just a player, not just a centre-back, he was the captain, and it was a deal with a club. All this was not an obligation, but almost. Keeping a player who is unhappy is difficult. It's always a problem in the team and the squad so it was important."

Fonte endured a miserable debut for West Ham on Wednesday night, conceding a penalty in a 4-0 defeat to Manchester City, and will make a swift return to St Mary's when the Hammers face Southampton on Saturday.

ID:290946: cacheID:290946:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2797:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte celebrates after his side's Premier League victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on January 14, 2017
Read Next:
Conte to be given £100m transfer kitty?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!