JOSE Fonte is stalling on signing a new contract at Southampton as he considers a move to Manchester United, according to The Sun.
The Red Devils are plotting an £8m swoop for the Saints captain this week, the paper reports.
Southampton have reportedly offered the 32-year-old a deal to make him one of their highest paid players, just months after he signed a three-year extension.
But The Sun claims that Fonte is "open" to joining Portugese countryman Jose Mourinho at United.
He is "not desperate to leave the South Coast," the paper adds.
Fonte set fans' nerves running last week when he posted a message on Instagram seen by many as a goodbye.
He wrote: "7 years of Passion,hard work,dedication and putting the team first,we was able to achieve success after success!!! Thank you for being there all the way"
Fonte later added "#WeMarchOn" and then "together!!" to his post, but speculation was already rife about the defender's plans.
A photo posted by JOSE FONTE (@f6nte) on Aug 11, 2016 at 10:49am PDT
If Saints allow the defender to leave, it is possible Fonte could line up against his current team mates at Old Trafford on Friday.
United would have to register the Portugese by midday on Thursday for him to be eligible.
But Saints will be keen to keep hold of their captain, the last remaining member of the squad to have travelled up from League One with the club.
“It is important to keep Jose," said manager Claude Puel before Saturday's clash with Watford.
"He is important for the team. I don’t think there is a possibility for Jose to leave.”
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