According to a recent report from the Mirror, Newcastle United are interested in signing Manchester United’s centre half Phil Jones. It is believed that he can depart from the Old Trafford this summer for £12m and the Magpies are planning to throw a lifeline to the out of favour English defender.
Jones has his contract at the club until 2023. However, he is clearly not in the picture to start regularly for the Red Devils. The defender has started just two games in the Premier League this campaign. That also shows how bad of a decision it was from Manchester United to hand him a new long-term contract last year.
Does Newcastle United need a centre back?
However, it seems like the fallen Manchester giants have found a possible suitor in Newcastle United. Steve Bruce has managed to build his around a steady backline. The Magpies have struggled to score goals freely, and their priority to bolster the squad should lie elsewhere.
The Magpies have the likes of Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark, Federico Fernandez and Florian Lejeune as their centre back options. All of their contracts run past this summer, and hence, we don’t see the need for Steve Bruce to bring in another centre half.
Should Steve Bruce consider signing Phil Jones?
Even if there is a departure in the summer, Phil Jones shouldn’t be considered unless the Toon are keen to add another player on the treatment table.
The 28-year-old burst onto the scene with Blackburn Rovers, and he was being seen as a significant talent at the time. However, Jones has failed to fulfil his potential, and he has struggled with injuries in the past few years. Even though he has played just two Premier League games this season, he was chucked off in one game at half time because of his poor display.
Newcastle United would be making a mistake by spending £12m on a 28-year-old injury-prone player. They have already suffered this season because of some poor signings. Jones would be another one on that list, and the Toon should stay away from Jones in the transfer market. Maybe on a free transfer as a squad player, he could have been worth considering. But for a transfer fee, Newcastle United should show higher ambitions instead of going after a player who will only likely increase their medical bill.
