In a recent report, The Sun has claimed that Manchester United are set to demand £20m for Phil Jones when the transfer window reopens in January. It is believed that the Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hoping to cash in on the English centre-back this winter after not including him in any of his match-day squads this season (via The Sun).
Jones’ Fall From Grace At Manchester
It has been a frustrating time for the 28-year-old at Old Trafford recently as he only played 562 minutes of football in the previous campaign. Jones made eight appearances for the Mancunian giants last season, scoring one goal and picking up two yellow cards in the process across all competitions.
The English defensive ace is yet to feature for Man United this season which signifies that he is currently surplus to requirements at the Theatre of Dreams. It’s such a shame that a player, who has made a total of 224 appearances for the Mancunian outfit, is being misused in this manner.
Hence, it makes sense for both the 27-time England international and the Red Devils to part ways with each other during the January transfer period. Solskjaer will do well to recoup £20m for Jones following his long absence from competitive football.
What Does The Experienced Centre-Back Bring To The Table?
On his day, Jones can be a decent defender at the back as he has got the aggression and hunger to win the ball back for his side. However, sometimes he can go a bit overboard with his tackles which could land him into disciplinary trouble. The English centre-half has also got the strength and leaping ability to win a few headers inside his half. However, his lack of pace can make him a massive liability on the field.
Despite his recent struggles, Jones has done well to win multiple major honours with Man United since arriving from Blackburn Rovers back in 2011. He has served the Mancunian club for nearly a decade, so they owe it to him to allow him to leave in his own terms.
Why The Red Devils Need To Sanction Jones’ Exit In January
At the moment, Solskjaer has got Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Axel Tuanzebe, Eric Bailly and Timothy Fosu-Mensah as his options for the centre-back positions. Man United need to trim their squad if they intend to build a strong team capable of winning some silverware in the years to come. Thus, Solskjaer should consider cutting Jones loose in January as he has got enough strength in depth in his match-day squad.
