Southampton captain Jose Fonte is a transfer target for Aston Villa and Everton

Aston Villa are in talks to sign Southampton captain Jose Fonte, according to Sky sources.

It is understood the 31-year-old is also a transfer target for Everton, who have already signed Barnsley defender Mason Holgate this week.

Fonte joined Southampton from Crystal Palace in 2010 and is a key part of the first-team squad at the south-coast club.

Last summer the Portugal international centre-back signed a new contract at St Mary's which runs until 2017.

Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk has been identified by Southampton as a possible replacement for Fonte, although any deal for the Dutchman is likely to depend on whether the Scottish club qualifies for the group stages of the Champions League.

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman - on crutches after having surgery on his ruputred Achilles - is adamant there is no chance of the club selling font.

He said: "I don't know if he is a target for other clubs but he is our captain, he's a very strong defender, he's a club man like Kelvin Davis and I don't have one second in my mind to sell that player.

"He is part of the team. There's no way to sell the player."