TheSportsCampus

Manchester United have confirmed the capture of 19-year old English prodigy Phil Jones on a 5 year deal from Blackburn Rovers. The defender was confirmed to have completed his medical last week with the Premier League Champions but the deal seemed to have hit a brick wall after Rovers deemed the £16.5 million fee as a poor evaluation of the player’s worth. However, Jones called up his employers and told them firmly that he wished to join no other club but Manchester United. It was reported that Liverpool were planning to swipe the deal from right under everyone’s nose by placing a £22 million on the table. But eventually United were able to complete their first of the many promised signings of the summer at the previously accepted fee.

"Much as we would love him to stay on with us - and we made all efforts to convince him to stay - Phil has to finally follow his heart," said a statement on behalf of the club management on their official website. 

Blackburn boss Steve Kean confirmed those efforts that were made included making the teenager the highest paid player in the club's history. "The offer we made he was staggering for a 19-year-old, but it wasn't the money," Kean told Sky Sports News.  Phil wants to play Champions League football now and we're not at that level. I'm sure we will be in the coming years, and we gave it a real good try and made him a fantastic offer, but I understand why he wants to go now.

The Gaffer at Ewood Park added “He goes with our blessing and it's an opportunity for us to invest in other young players across other areas of the pitch. We were hoping he was going to be captain of our club and captain of England, he's a fantastic prospect and I'm sure he'll be an England regular very soon."

Phil Jones is known to be a very competitive defender who can also play a more than a handy role in midfield. He had a regular run in the Blackburn first team in the business end of the season and forged a great reputation for himself. Jones has also gone on to become a regular fixture in the England U-21 setup, graduating from the U-19 team last year.

 Twitter, writing: “I’d just like to start off by saying that I've loved my time at Blackburn and I will always be a huge fan. “But this is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I am looking forward to a new challenge. Thank you for all your kind messages. Michael Owen, who recently agreed a new deal 1 year earlier this month with Red Devils, welcomed the Jones deal as “great news”.

United will now look to dip their hands deeper into the transfer market as they try to rope in more established and budding stars into their fold. The Red Devils have been heavily linked with the likes of Goalkeeper David de Gea, Wesley Sneijder, Ashley Young and Samir Nasri. With retirements of club legends Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Edwin van der Sar, Sir Alex has no choice but to make massive changes at OT. With an envy-worthy kitty available to him and his lofty ambitions of usurping Barcelona off their pedestal igniting his soul, the old Scot seems more hungry than ever to take his team to the top.