Manchester United outcast Phil Jones could be on his way out in January amid interest from several clubs while Marcus Rashford is set for a new bumper contract.
According to an exclusive report from the Daily Star, out-of-favour Manchester United star Phil Jones is set to seal an exit from the club in the January transfer window, with several clubs lining up to sign him on a loan deal.
Jones has been with Manchester United since the summer of 2011, having arrived from Blackburn Rovers. Tipped for a bright future at the club by Sir Alex Ferguson, the Englishman has never really been able to live up to the initial potential he showed, with injuries and a lack of consistency preventing him from establishing himself as a regular at Old Trafford.
Jones signed a new contract with Manchester United last year but has hardly featured since, having faced injury setbacks one after the other. Currently out on the sidelines, the 28-year-old hasn’t made a single appearance this season. In fact, the last time he took the field for the Red Devils was almost a year ago, in a FA Cup tie in January.
With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer having plenty of options at his disposal for the centre-back slot, Jones was omitted from Manchester United’s Premier League squad for the season. And come January, it is widely expected that the Englishman will be on the move, even if it is on a temporary basis. And, as per the aforementioned report, Jones isn’t short of suitors for his services.
Relegation battlers West Bromwich Albion are said to be keen on the 28-year-old following the appointment of Sam Allardyce as their manager, who is looking to bolster his defensive department in the winter transfer window. It must be noted that the Manchester United star played under Allardyce during his time at Blackburn.
Apart from West Brom, Burnley, too, are closely monitoring Jones’ situation, as they have been doing since the summer. However, the Clarets will only make a move for the Jones if they lost defensive mainstay James Tarkowski, who has refused to sign a new contract with the club.
In addition, Jones is also courting interest from Championship strugglers Derby County, where his former Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney has taken over the reins on an interim basis. What makes Jones an appealing loan prospect for all the aforementioned clubs is that United are willing to cover a major portion of his £120,000-a-week wages.
Manchester United ace Marcus Rashford in line for a bumper new contract
While Phil Jones edges closer to an exit from Old Trafford, his Manchester United teammate Marcus Rashford is set to receive a lucrative new contract in the new year, if a report from the Daily Mirror is to be believed.
A graduate of the Red Devils’ youth academy, Rashford has grown leaps and bounds since breaking into the first-team back in 2016 under Louis van Gaal. Just 23 years old, the forward has already amassed 234 appearances for the club, bagging 79 goals and 45 assists.
Having enjoyed a fruitful campaign in front of goal last season, Rashford has continued in his prolific ways in the ongoing season as well, already scoring 12 goals while setting up five more in 20 matches across all competitions. The 23-year-old put in a match-winning display earlier this week as Manchester United beat Sheffield United 3-2.
Rashford’s rapid growth into one of the best young attackers in Europe has, unsurprisingly, led to interest from the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, as per the report. And Manchester United, as a result, are keen to secure his long-term future with the club by tabling a new contract offer.
Rashford’s current £200,000-a-week deal runs till 2023 with the club retaining the option of extending it by another year. However, Manchester United are aware that a strong showing in the next summer’s European Championships could further increase the interest in him and are planning to hand him a new deal before the tournament kicks off.
Rashford is not the only Manchester United player set to be offered a bumper new deal with Bruno Fernandes also in line for an extension just a year after his arrival.
