Filed under: Blackburn Rovers, Manchester United, Premier League, Football
Manchester United have made a dramatic move to sign Blackburn Rovers' Phil Jones in a deal worth around £16 million as Sir Alex Ferguson again proves to be the scourge of Merseyside.Ferguson not only guided United to 19 top-flight titles last season - overtaking Liverpool's impressive tally - but he has now also put a huge dent in Kenny Dalglish's summer transfer ambitions.
Jones met with Ewood Park manager Steve Kean on Monday and told him that he wanted to leave for a bigger Premier League club.
Until just 24 hours ago, Liverpool were leading the race for his signature and it was believed that he would be having a medical at Melwood on Wednesday.
However, according to reports on Sky Sports News, Ferguson has now raced to sign the player ahead of Liverpool in what will be a major blow to Dalglish's Anfield rebuilding plans.
It is believed that Ferguson was reluctant to move for Jones for at least 12 months but he has noticed Liverpool's interest and decided to act now rather than regret it later.
Ferguson has been an admirer of Jones for the past year but wanted to give him another season at Ewood Park to further his footballing education before making a bid.
However, if there is one thing Ferguson will not tolerate it is the thought of losing out on a player to Liverpool - and especially not to his old sparring partner Dalglish. He would prefer Jones to come to United a year earlier than planned rather than watching him star for Liverpool.
Dalglish will be fuming at the way Ferguson has pipped him at the post and he is likely to be joined by Rio Ferdinand who will also be concerned by Jones's arrival at Old Trafford.
Ferdinand has been a top-class defender for over a decade but a host of calf and back problems have reduced him to shadow of the footballer he was when he joined United in 2002.
Jones may only be 19 but he has impressed with his ability to handle the Premier League's physicality and it is likely that Ferguson views him as a long-term central defender alongside Chris Smalling.
In the meantime, Nemanja Vidic is likely to remain United's first choice defender so that means Ferguson now has the option of playing him alongside Jones, Smalling or Ferdinand.
And Ferdinand will know that if his body keeps betraying him as it has done over the last 18 months, an ambitious and passionate new defender 13 years younger than him is just waiting to jump into his spot.
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