Transfer News: Manchester United set to trigger 12-month option in Phil Jones’ contract amid Arsenal, Tottenham interet

Manchester United are reportedly poised to trigger the one-year extension option in Phil Jones’ contract, to stave off interest from Arsenal and Tottenham.

As per a report from The Sun, Manchester United are set to extend Phil Jones’ stay at the club by another year, by taking up the 12-month extension option in the Englishman’s contract, in order to ward off interest from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

The 26-year-old is one of a handful of Manchester United stars who are out of contract in the summer. And his potential availability has alerted North London outfits Arsenal and Tottenham, who are believed to be intent on strengthening their backline ahead of the next season.

And to avoid the possibility of losing Jones on a free transfer to a direct rival at the end of the season, the Red Devils are set to trigger the one-year extension option in the defender’s contract by the end of this month.

A graduate of the Blackburn Rovers’ academy, Jones was signed for Manchester United by Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer of 2011 as a talented youngster brimming with immense potential. However, the Englishman hasn’t been able to live up to the expectations at Old Trafford, with injuries hampering his growth at the club.

Jones, till date, has gone on to make 194 appearances for Manchester United, scoring five goals and setting up nine more. The 26-year-old has won a Premier League title, an FA Cup and a League Cup, along with the UEFA Europa League trophy during his stay at the club.

The 2018-19 campaign has been a frustrating one for the England international, as he has appeared only twice for Jose Mourinho’s side thus far, with a hamstring problem keeping him out on the sidelines for a large chunk of the season. With Manchester United actively seeking defensive reinforcements in the January transfer window, his game time is unlikely to improve either.

However, manager Mourinho holds Jones in high regard and is believed to have instructed the club to extend his stay by another year, to give him an opportunity to work his way back into the team.

This would come as a blow to Arsenal and Tottenham’s hopes of landing the 27-time capped England international. Interestingly, however, Jones is not the only Manchester United defender on the London clubs’ radar, with Mourinho outcast Eric Bailly also a subject of interest for the Gunners and the Lilywhites.

Following Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat to champions Manchester City on Sunday, the Red Devils now boast a negative goal difference after 12 Premier League outings. This will serve as further motivation to sign a new centre-back in January and the club might have to offload one of their existing defenders in order to make room for the new arrival.

However, with Manchester United set to extend Jones’ stay at the club, it seems like he will not be facing the axe from the squad, with either of Bailly, or Marcos Rojo, who hasn’t played a single game this term, likely to be forced out of Old Trafford. As far as Arsenal and Tottenham are concerned, they will likely have to turn their attention elsewhere.