Jose Fonte contract no distraction for Southampton

Southampton manager Claude Puel dismissed claims that contract talks with defender Jose Fonte may distract his side ahead of tonight’s pivotal Europa League clash against Hapoel Be’er Sheva.

Both sides enter the encounter locked on seven points with the winner earning a place in the last 32 of the competition, but continuous speculation over the future of Southampton’s skipper has featured heavily in the build-up.

Speculation heightened this week when Fonte took to his Instagram account to state that he has been informed by Southampton that he will not be offered a new contract.