Southampton: Saints linked with Phil Jones | OneFootball

Southampton have recently been linked with a move for Manchester United centre-back Phil Jones, but it could prove to be a disastrous signing by Martin Semmens.

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According to 90min journalist Graeme Bailey, Southampton are among a number of Premier League clubs, including Newcastle United, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Everton, Brighton and West Ham, to be keeping tabs on the 29-year-old’s situation at Old Trafford.

Would Phil Jones be a good signing?

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Although the former Blackburn Rovers man has been surplus to requirements for some time at Manchester United, following the impending signing of Raphael Varane, it seems as if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is willing to let Jones leave on a free transfer in order to finally facilitate his departure, despite him having two years left on his deal with the Red Devils.

Jones was signed for United by Sir Alex Ferguson back in 2011 in a deal worth £17m but has struggled terribly with injuries during his 10 years at the club, Making 224 appearances to his name in all competitions, the 2011/12 and 2013/14 seasons were the only two where he managed more than 25 appearances in a top-flight campaign for the Red Devils.

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Would he be a good signing?

Despite him reportedly being available for nothing, the report also suggests that Jones earns £100k per week at Old Trafford, which suggests that unless he took a serious pay cut, he would be one of the top earners at Southampton should he make the move to St Mary’s.

Unless the former England international is able to shake off his injury concerns and rediscover the form he was showing nearly a decade ago, then it is difficult to see him getting in ahead of any of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s current centre-back options. He will also turn 30 in February next year, so he would not be a signing for the long-term, while he has forged an unfortunate reputation for producing moments which wouldn’t inspire confidence.

Therefore, it makes very little sense to sign him, and Southampton fans would surely be less than happy if they were to waste a significant portion of their wage budget for the transfer window on an ageing, injury-prone player such as Jones.

In other news… Southampton look set to miss out on their next Sadio Mane as agent drops transfer update