West Ham enforcer Jose Fonte is reportedly on the verge of a £4.9million move to Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang, and fans have taken to Twitter to express their sadness at the move.
As reported by the Daily Record, Fonte is set to jet out to China on Monday to complete the move after agreeing terms with the CSL club.
The newspaper report that Fonte is set to put pen to paper on a three-year deal with Dalian, which is said to be worth a massive £3.54million a year to the Portugal international.
Fonte has only played eight times this season for the Hammers after being struck down by a serious ankle injury that required surgery.
The 34-year-old centre-back signed for West Ham for a fee of around £8million from Southampton in January 2017, and has made 24 appearances in all competitions for the club in his time in east London.
After the Record broke the news about Fonte’s impending exit from West Ham, distraught fans took to Twitter to express their disappointment and sadness at the move.
The Hammers have been left short defensively this season through injuries to several key players, and have shipped a massive 46 goals in their 27 games so far.
This is Futbol have rounded up some of the best tweets:
Really? He was playing well prior to his injury…
— Far Eastender (@woodcock277) February 22, 2018
Huh? Just like that ? ???
— Jim Smith (@Mozzer2015) February 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/Westham2018/status/966645134229213184
https://twitter.com/SeanSweeney09/status/966646382512758784
I’ll be gutted to see Fonte go! Was decent for us this season before he got injured.
Also he’s a great agent for us with Portuguese players! #WHUFC #COYI
— West Ham News & Views (@WestHamViews_) February 22, 2018
It will be heartbreaking for me If Fonte leave us??
— East London Hammers (@EastHammers) February 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/CharlieRadford9/status/966650740088373248
If this Fonte story re moving to a Chinese club is true then a strange decision by the club to let him go, just returning to fitness, was playing well before injury and a tough run in to ensure we stay in PL. Can only be about cashing in on him due to his age ?
— John (@FJohnf1964) February 22, 2018