Saints captain and recently voted player of the year Jose Fonte has revealed he had tried to convince both Morgan Scniederlin and Nathaniel Clyne to stay on the south coast.
As always, Southamptons best players are subject to huge speculation entering the summer transfer window, however Fonte has done everything in his power to try and keep both Clyne and Morgan at Saints:
“Honestly, I hope that they consider everything,” he said.
“I individually spoke to them in regards to that situation and I know the club is doing everything they can to keep them here.
“They’ve been offered contracts and, at the end, it’s going to be their decision.
“We need to understand that we did everything we can to make them feel special, to make them feel that they are rewarded in every single aspect and I think we have done that, so it’s up to them to make the decision and whatever they do, we have to respect, because this is their own life, but, obviously, I wish we can keep everyone and add a couple more and go for even higher than this year.
“That’s the objective, that’s why I’ve been trying to pass the message and speak to them and make them understand that, if we can keep everyone and add another two or three players, we will be a force next season and I just hope that we can do that.”
The 29 year-old will be hoping that this summer wont be like last years somewhat ‘exodus’ with Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren all exiting the club.
Although joining bigger sides, none of them have had a prolific season like they did at Saints last season:
“I don’t wish bad to anyone. Obviously, they were my teammates for many years and above all they were good friends and I wish them the best and I want them to succeed.
“But it didn’t happen for them this year and they didn’t have great seasons, but you can’t criticise, you know. It’s decisions, and it’s everyone’s own life.
“You have to think about you and your family and, obviously, financially it’s not everything, but this is our job, it’s in a very short space of time, and you need to maximise the best possible way.
“But, having said that, everyone has their own mind and you need to make your own decisions. They’ve decided to move on.
“I respected their decisions and I wished them well, but the grass isn’t always greener. Sometimes you need to think that the decisions you make don’t always pay off.”
