Phil Jones Linked With Surprise Newcastle Lifeline Amid Uncertain Man Utd Future

​Newcastle manager Steve Bruce is reportedly interested in signing Manchester United centre-back Phil Jones this summer. 

The 28-year-old has made only eight appearances for United this season as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has favoured a defensive partnership of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelöf. 

Even when Manchester United have opted for three centre-backs, Luke Shaw or Eric Bailly have been preferred ahead of Jones. 

However, as reported by ​The Mirror, Bruce and Newcastle are offering Jones an opportunity to kickstart his stalling Premier League career, with David Moyes, manager of fellow strugglers West Ham, also interested. 

The former England international is thought to be available for around £12m, with a transfer likely to be sanctioned this summer.

Where fellow centre-back Chris Smalling, currently enjoying life on loan at Roma, will play his football next season remains to be seen, while 22-year-old Axel Tuanzebe looks to set to be afforded more first team action next year - meaning playing time will be hard to come by for Jones.

Sir Alex Ferguson signed a 19-year-old Jones from Blackburn Rovers for £17m back in 2011. The following nine years have proven him to be a versatile and full-blooded player who has enjoyed his fair share of ups and downs.

He signed a ​new four-year contract in February 2019 tying him to United until 2023 with an option for a further year after that. However, the 28-year-old started his last match for ​Manchester United in January, scoring in the 6-0 FA Cup away win at Tranmere Rovers. 

With 27 England caps to his name and more than 200 appearances for Manchester United, Jones is a player with an impressive amount of experience at the top level and should he avoid injuries - which have plagued his career - he represents an interesting addition to either ​Newcastle or West Ham's back line.