According to Eurosport, Newcastle United are challenging West Ham and Leicester for the signing of Manchester United’s Phil Jones.
It’s claimed that Steve Bruce has been in touch with United coach Michael Carrick to find out where Jones is at.
That’s in terms of his fitness and focus, having not played a senior game all season.
The fact Jones is outside Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans means United are willing to do a January deal.
West Ham and Leicester are both flying high this season and are both potential options for Jones when the transfer window opens.
Jones’s reported £80,000-a-week wages are raised as a potential stumbling block in the report.
But it is thought there is room for negotiation over a transfer fee for the Englishman, which could make a deal affordable.
United signed Jones in a £17 million (BBC) deal back in 2011, but the fee they can expect to get back if he is sold won’t be anything close to that.
In truth, after a season when Jones has been battling injury and not played, it’s a bonus for United that there are apparently three interested parties.
Jones needs a fresh start, and at 28, he could still be an asset to a Premier League club if he can stay fit.
He is out in the cold at United, left out of both the Champions League and Premier League squads.
Solskjaer recently said Jones will be out until after Christmas with injury, which may be an issue for any potential suitors.
But if he can get himself fit enough to convince Steve Bruce, David Moyes or Brendan Rodgers he can make an impact, his career could start to get back on track with a move.
- How Mateus Fernandes described his style of play in his first interview after signing for West Ham in 2025
- Man Utd World Cup ratings day four, Amad shines but 8/10 star proved himself despite 7-1 thrashing
- Brazilian commentators and ex-players rip into Casemiro after World Cup start, here’s what I think they are missing
- Mateus Fernandes deal could make Ederson an absolutely crucial player for Man Utd in a very different way
- Alongside Mateus Fernandes, super agent Jorge Mendes could bring another midfielder to Man Utd
- Analysing Ayyoub Bouaddi’s style of play: ‘Elegant’ midfielder is perfect for Man United
- €60m Marc Cucurella deal could trigger domino effect that is terrible for Manchester United
- Man Utd are about to have a proud academy moment in the World Cup involving Hannibal
- Man Utd fans decide between signing Mateus Fernandes or Elliot Anderson this summer
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
