Man United: Phil Jones scores incredible goal in training
Manchester United star Phil Jones is open to a move away from Old Trafford, according to reports. The England international has emerged as a transfer target for Newcastle as Steve Bruce aims to bolster his backline.
Jones is one of Manchester United’s longest-serving players having been at the club since touching down from Blackburn Rovers in 2011.
The England international has, however, never lived up to expectations since his arrival nine years ago.
United legend Sir Alex Ferguson had high hopes for Jones but the defender has struggled under David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the years since the Scot’s departure.
And the Mirror say that Jones is open to a move away, with Newcastle interested in bringing him to Tyneside this summer.
United will listen to offers for the 28-year-old with Solskjaer happy with his defensive options.
Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire have formed a solid partnership at the back, with Eric Bailly a capable understudy.
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United gave Jones a new contract a year ago that ties him to the club until 2023.
But that decision has backfired and it appears the former Blackburn star’s days at Old Trafford are numbered.
Meanwhile, Blackburn hero Chris Samba recently opened up on Jones’ struggles at United.
And the ex-Rovers star expressed a belief that injuries had stunted his old team-mates’ development.
“Definitely. The names that he was put with in the same bracket was justified,” Samba told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“He looked like he had that ceiling.
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“It’s just that injuries have been against him. It’s unfortunate, but that’s what football is. Injuries change everything.”
Samba also admitted that he initially had doubts over Jones while at Blackburn, adding: “Phil Jones was in the reserves and on his way to come with us. Sometimes he was training with us and I was like ‘nah, I don’t think so’.
“More time passed by and the more he trained with us it was like ‘wow, he’s changed so fast’. He went from being somebody you’re not sure about to being ‘wow, that’s some player’.
“I remember there was a game when two of the central defenders were injured and Sam [Allardyce] asked if I was okay playing with Phil. I was like ‘sure, let him play’.
“From the first minute he smashed [Didier] Drogba, challenges and everything and had the fans behind him. He was unbelievable.
“I have never seen progression like that in the space of two years. He was a different player.”