Scouting Arsenal Transfer Target Jose Fonte

Arsenal’s search for a new centre-half has now taken on the utmost urgency. Having lost Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista to long-term injuries, manager Arsene Wenger is being forced to field the callow pair of Calum Chambers and Rob Holding at the heart of his defence.

Although the Gunners boss will soon be able to call upon Laurent Koscielny, he is still lacking someone experienced enough to help the Frenchman marshal the back four. It should, therefore, be no surprise that he is considering a move for Southampton’s Jose Fonte.

Arsenal have been extensively linked with a bid for Germany international Shkodran Mustafi. However, that deal appears to have been held up. What’s more, Spanish radio station Deportes SER Valencia (h/t Uche Amako of the Daily Express) are reporting that the Gunners now face competition from Liverpool for the 24-year-old's signature.

With little progress being made, Wenger is now looking for alternatives—and Andy Mitten of ESPN FC reported that Fonte is one of the targets:

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Southampton centre-back Jose Fonte is keen to join Manchester United but he has also received an approach from Arsenal, sources have told ESPN FC. 

Jose Mourinho is seeking an experienced defensive leader and club sources told ESPN FC in recent days that United had opened informal talks over 32-year-old Fonte, who could play for Southampton at Old Trafford on Friday night. 

Fonte, who would command a fee of around £10m, would be a cheaper option and one who has been consistent in the Premier League.

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Fonte would certainly be a cheaper option than Mustafi. Deportes SER Valencia (h/t the Express) suggest the Spanish side want £26 million for their man, while the Saints star's touted fee is less than half that amount.

We know Wenger loves a bargain; earlier this summer, he pursued Jamie Vardy, presumably partly because his release clause made him a relative snip at £20 million. If the Arsenal boss wants to save money in his budget for a potential attacking addition, it would make sense to chase a defender in Fonte’s price bracket.

The reason he’s cheap is straightforward: it's his age. Although he still has two years remaining on his contract with Southampton, he would go down as one of Wenger’s oldest outfield signings. He’s 32 now—he will turn 33 before the year is out. That makes him a year older than Mertesacker, the man he’s ostensibly replacing.  

That’s not necessarily a problem—Wenger has in the past shown a willingness to sign older players, particularly in defence. Sebastien Squillaci was 30, Mikael Silvestre was 31—and on the final time he joined the club, Sol Campbell was 35.

Defence is an area where experience is hugely beneficial. Anyone watching Arsenal ship four goals against Liverpool with the young pair of Chambers and Holding on the field will surely agree. The likes of Tony Adams, Martin Keown and Steve Bould were arguably all at their best once they passed the age of 30.

Furthermore, Fonte is one of the game’s late developers. Only five years ago, he was playing with Southampton in English football’s third tier. However, he has now established himself as one of the finest centre-halves on the continent. He’s even broken into the international setup, making his Portugal debut in October 2014 and going on to become a mainstay of the side.

He arguably reached the pinnacle of his career this summer, when he won Euro 2016 with his international side. Portugal’s success was founded on a reliable defence, and although Pepe took many of the plaudits, Fonte was integral.

After the victory in the final against France, Simon Burton of the Guardian described Fonte as being “dominant in the air, both when keeping the ball from Giroud in his own defence and from set pieces at the other.”

Fonte has outstanding aerial ability. According to Squawka, he won 68 percent of his headed duels last season. That’s superior to Koscielny’s ratio of 64 percent. 

WyScout / Karl Matchett

However, he’s also comfortable with the ball on the ground. Fonte completed 84 percent of his passes last season—this is not a player prone to just hoofing the ball up the pitch. Southampton play attractive football, and the former Crystal Palace man is at ease instigating moves from deep. 

He excels in both physical and technical elements of the game. Although Fonte is Portuguese, he has come up through the divisions in England and thus plays with a pseudo-British style.

While the defender has worked with a number of excellent coaches, the one he credits with really helping him acclimatise to the English game comes as something of a surprise: former Palace manager Neil Warnock.

Fonte told Jeremy Wilson of the Telegraph:

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He [Warnock] was really the first who taught me how to play English football. He taught me to play hard, be aggressive and play simple. Alan Pardew brought me to Southampton and was a great influence and then we had consecutive promotions under Nigel Adkins.

Mauricio Pochettino came in and is one of the best managers in the world now. I learned a lot from him, tactically, in positioning, and physically. He pushed me really hard. And, then, I got probably the best centre-back in the world [Ronald Koeman] to manage me.

He gave me the armband, put trust in me, gave me confidence and really believed in me. I’m not the same player I was in League One. I am proud of what I achieved because it was all through hard work, good managers and team-mates pushing me. 

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Since becoming Southampton’s captain, Fonte has grown into one of the Premier League’s most influential centre-halves. That’s where he would help Arsenal.

Although Koscielny is an outstanding defender, he is not a natural organiser. Mertesacker has a gift for strategic thinking but is hurt by his lack of athleticism. Fonte is quicker than the German but also has his agile mind. Alongside Koscielny, Fonte could form a formidable partnership. 

Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Fonte believes he still has plenty to offer. Asked about his age, he told the Telegraph: "John Terry is an example. Last year he was the best centre-back in the league at 34 or 35. I’m still 32. I feel good physically and hopefully my best years are to come."

Ultimately, his age shouldn't particularly matter. Wenger is now in the last year of his contract. That fact, in conjunction with Arsenal’s deepening injury crisis, means he has to think short term anyway.

The question is: Would Fonte improve Arsenal’s current side immediately? The answer is undoubtedly yes. If Mustafi proves to be out of reach, the Portuguese could be a very handy signing indeed.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout 2016/17. Follow him on Twitter here. All statistics via Squawka.