Newcastle United are reportedly interested in obtaining the services of Manchester United outcast Phil Jones on a free transfer.
The defender failed to make an appearance last season as he healed from surgery following a long-term knee injury.
The centre-half is on £100,000-a-week contract which still has two years left to run. But the Red Devils are keen to let him go this summer and end his deal early.
Jones brought to the club by Sir Alex Ferguson from Blackburn Rovers in 2011. The United hero once supported the England international to be one of the club’s biggest ever players.
Indeed, the 29-year-old went on to win a Premier League title, an FA Cup and a Europa League. However, in the last two seasons, Jones has played in just eight competitive matches for United.
The centre-back has been afflicted by injury throughout his career. In total, he has missed 204 games for the 20-time English champions.
Newcastle aren’t the only club after his services, though. Everton, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Burnley are also touted as potential suitors. Brighton and Southampton are also monitoring the situation at Old Trafford.
If he does move on to any of those teams this summer, he will almost certainly have to accept a sizeable pay cut.