Manchester United Outcast Phil Jones Could Be Set For Surprise January Move

Phil Jones could be on his way out of Manchester United in January, with a Champions League club supposedly interested in a loan move.

Jones is in his 11th season at United, and was once touted as potentially being the club's best ever player by Sir Alex Ferguson, but things haven't gone well in the past two years.

His most recent game for the club came in January 2020, when he scored in United's 6-0 win in the FA Cup against Tranmere Rovers, before he was out for 20 months with an injury.

The centre back has returned to the substitutes bench in recent weeks but is yet to play for Ralf Rangnick, and could soon be on his way out of the club.

According to the Daily Mail, Rangnick is ready to accept an offer for the 29-year-old, as he looks to cut his squad down before making any improvements to it.

The paper claim that Benfica could be the surprise option for the former Blackburn Rovers defender, as they're currently looking for a loan move for a centre back.

Jones has been back on the bench this season. Image: PA Images

The Portuguese club made it through to the knockout stages of the Champions League, thanks to Barcelona's 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on Matchday Six.

However they are currently four points behind title rivals Porto and Sporting and want a versatile defender to boost the squad. Jones' experience at right back and central midfield does in theory make him an option.

The former England international, who played in the 2018 World Cup for Gareth Southgate's team, might have already played in the Champions League this season.

He reportedly impressed Rangnick enough in training that the former RB Leipzig manager was ready to select him for the dead rubber against Young Boys.

However Jones was not actually registered for the competition by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the beginning of the campaign, and Eric Bailly and Nemanja Matic started the match in central defence.

Jones during his most recent appearance for United. Image: PA Images

Rangnick could already be looking at a player to 'replace' Jones, with the interim manager being linked with a move for Antonio Rudiger from Chelsea in the summer.

United have also been linked with Boubacar Kamara from Marseille, and a potential move for Julian Alvarez, both for January transfers.

Topics: Transfers, Phil Jones, Manchester United, Premier League, Primeira Liga, Benfica, Champions League

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

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