Ligue 1 club Bordeaux could offer forgotten Manchester United defender Phil Jones a new lease of life before the transfer window slams shut.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, French top-flight club Bordeaux are interested in making a late move for Manchester United defender Phil Jones.
The Englishman was among the best prospects in the nation when Sir Alex Ferguson signed him in 2011. Eleven years on, injuries have taken their toll and prevented him from reaching the heights he promised to scale as a teenager. Jones has made 225 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring six goals and assisting ten more in that time.
The 29-year-old has missed 205 games due to various issues during his 11-year stay at Old Trafford. Jones returned to action after a lengthy layoff earlier this season in the Premier League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers. It remains his only senior appearance for Manchester United this season.
Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly are ahead of Jones in the pecking order and offer major competition for places. Jones has enough left in him to rekindle his career elsewhere and appears to have been offered an opportunity to do just that by Bordeaux.
Bordeaux are confident to sign Phil Jones from Manchester United. Talks at final stages also on player side, he’s keen on the move. ⏳?? #MUFC
Only the final ‘green light’ from Rangnick is missing to complete the deal. Bordeaux side, more than optimistic. https://t.co/1S2xHoq2Wh
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 29, 2022
The French club currently sit in the 17th spot in Ligue 1 and face the danger of being caught in the relegation dogfight. Les Girondins have the leakiest defence in the French top-flight and have conceded 53 goals in a mere 22 games so far.
Talks are currently underway between both clubs, and Bordeaux appear more than optimistic that an agreement can be reached. Whether the deal is for a loan until the summer or a permanent transfer remains unclear. Either way, it could hand the long-serving Manchester United defender a fresh start, although he has also been linked with Burnley.
Manchester United interim-manager Ralf Rangnick has to green-light the move, and a new chapter will then begin in Phil Jones’s career. A dependable defender, the 29-year-old has often been subject to criticism and mockery, which has often shrouded his defensive nous.
While it may be too late for him to reach his expected heights, Jones remains a solid defender who is more than capable of thriving in the right system. The Manchester United outcast also has age on his side and will hope that the worst of his injury setbacks are behind him.
A move to France will give Jones a fresh start and allow him to rediscover himself in a less physically challenging league. Manchester United do not need to keep Jones in their squad, and it will be in everyone’s best interests to see the Englishman finally move on.
