Blackburn's Phil Jones set for Manchester United move

[Sluffy]

Blackburn defender Phil Jones is set to join Manchester United in a deal worth up to £17m.

The England Under-21 centre-half is having a medical with the Premier League champions, after turning down offers from Arsenal and Liverpool.

Jones only made his Premier League debut in March last year but has made a big impact in his first full season.

Loads more here -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13700351.stm


Seems Cahill was not as wanted as everyone as been led to believe if United, Arsenal and Niverpool all had Jones as their first choice.

[ReebokTrotter]

It wouls appear Arsenal are the favourites for Cahill's signature.

[aarons2009]

I am surprised at £17million, good business for Rovers.

If Arsenal were willing to pay the same as United I am guessing they will be more than willing to buy Cahill for the same price.

[Weststander]

I am surprised at £17million, good business for Rovers.

If Arsenal were willing to pay the same as United I am guessing they will be more than willing to buy Cahill for the same price.

He's about 6 years younger than Cahill and can play centre mid too.

I always thought Cahill had the football brain and technique to make a good centre mid but we never tried him there.

[H. Pedersen]

As a Bolton fan it’s a bit depressing to see these young academy players making huge money moves.  Jones for £17 million, Henderson for £20 million . . . meanwhile our most prominent academy player to be sold recently, Basham, netted us a cool £1 million.  

I know there are geographical reasons why we aren’t attracting tons of young players with this kind of potential, but I think the club is making some serious mistakes regarding youth policy.  The squad bloat experienced under Lee and Megson put about 37 mediocre players between any youngster and a full debut.  Coyle hasn’t helped matters, fielding Cohen instead of Vela at the end of the season even though Cohen was going to be released.  Even if Ward and Vela only become fringe members of the squad, that’s still worth money to us.  I mock the £1 million we made for Basham above but it’s really not bad for a guy who never set the world alight in his handful of senior games.  If he hadn’t played that handful of games, we’d have gotten nothing.

I also question the quality of training at our academy.  Our two most prominent graduates, Nolan and Hunt, were really lacking in the fundamentals required by their respective positions.

[Weststander]

Coyle blew a great chance in those last 10 games to look at some of the youngsters, instead he moaned every week that the team were looking knackered. And he only reinstated Jussi after dropping him at Rovers because him and his agent were threatening to leave if he didn't get straight back in.

[Bwfc4eva]

I think you're right, the young players would have given a hell of a lot more effort than the first-teamers, and you never know, that may have led on to bigger and better things.

[Weststander]

For me, he could have stuck a few of the youngsters in for the Sunderland game at least. Nothing to lose, maybe uncovered a potential Jones or Smalling and could have done no worse than the shower of shite who did wear the white shirt that day.

Even if they had got battered, which was always unlikely, it would have generated a bit more excitement for us fans seeing some new, young faces and I doubt Coyle would have been saying the team looked tired.

[ReebokTrotter]

For me, he could have stuck a few of the youngsters in for the Sunderland game at least. Nothing to lose, maybe uncovered a potential Jones or Smalling and could have done no worse than the shower of shite who did wear the white shirt that day.

Even if they had got battered, which was always unlikely, it would have generated a bit more excitement for us fans seeing some new, young faces and I doubt Coyle would have been saying the team looked tired.

Agree 100%. After the debacle against Stoke he should have thrown some of the reserves in at the deep end. It's about time the likes of Vela, Eaves, Ward and Connolly were given a game in the first team.

[Squidgy]

Never even heard of him.

The game's on it's arse.