Stoke confirm interest in Man United defender Jones

Matt Stead

Stoke City assistant manager Mark Bowen has confirmed the club are interested in signing Manchester United defender Phil Jones.

Jones has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford following the arrival of Eric Bailly and has failed to even make the bench for the opening two matches of the season.

A series of injuries have stalled the 24-year-old’s progress, and the England international tops our list of 10 players who need a move before the transfer window shuts in a week.

“I remember Sam Allardyce talking about him when he broke through and said he was the new Duncan Edwards,” he told the Stoke Sentinel.

“He did well as a youngster, got the big move, but it hasn’t worked out for him there. I don’t know how close we are or how far down the line it’s gone.

“He’s played the majority of his career at centre half, but in his younger days he went into midfield as well.

“I don’t know what’s gone wrong, but he’s gone from even a player Fergie [Alex Ferguson] was talking about as being someone who could have been one of the greats.

“But we have a bit of reputation for bringing players like that into this set up and then thriving. Fingers crossed, something may happen.”