Jose Fonte will not be joining Liverpool in January

Southampton defender, Jose Fonte will not be the next Saints player to swap the south coast for Merseyside, reports Sky Sports.

Twitter: BREAKING: Sky sources: Jose Fonte will not be joining Liverpool in January: https://t.co/tetby2b3zk #SSNHQ https://t.co/RO4YvuBFRr (@SkySportsNewsHQ)

The Portuguese defender has handed in a transfer request at Southampton and has been given permission to look for another club.

Rumours had suggested that a swap-deal involving Mamadou Sakho could be on the cards, but it appears Fonte will not be joining Liverpool in this January window.

There appears to plenty of interest in Fonte, with the player being linked with moves to West Ham and Crystal Palace.

Fonte has been out of the Southampton first-team squad of late, following the speculation around his future.

The defender has been a mainstay in the Saints’ team since their return to the Premier League and has often been linked with big-money moves away from the club.