Big Sam keen to keep Jones at Ewood

02 May 2010 13:57
Sam Allardyce has warned the vultures hovering over Blackburn's Phil Jones that it will take an eye-watering offer for him to consider selling.[LNB] Monday's opponents Arsenal are understood to be one of the many clubs keeping an eye on the 18-year-old centre-back who has made a real impact on the Premier League this season.[LNB]A product of the club's youth academy, Jones was thrown in at the deep end for his league debut, but emerged as man of the match in a superb 1-1 draw with Chelsea just six weeks ago.[LNB]Since then Jones has not looked back, becoming a regular in Rovers' last six games, and attracting the attention of a number of scouts.[LNB]Although money talks, Allardyce is confident Jones will still be at Ewood Park come the start of next season.[LNB]If not, then a figure far in excess of the £10million Manchester United paid Fulham for another England star of the future in Chris Smalling is likely to be the going rate.[LNB]"When you look at Chris Smalling's situation, he plays four (league) games and he is sold for £10million," said Allardyce, whose side host Arsenal tomorrow.[LNB]"That's how quickly things happen when a new player emerges on the scene like him and Phil Jones. They create a stir in the world of football.[LNB]"When they play consistently well then it's bound to attract some of the big boys.[LNB]"I do fear a big club will come and take him, and it doesn't matter he is currently on a longish-term contract because if they offer enough money we would have to sell him. It's as simple as that.[LNB]"But the money would have to be rather large, to say the least, so I'm very confident he'll be here (next season).[LNB]"I don't see a club stumping up the sort of money that would be in my mind to even consider letting him go."[LNB]Crucially for Allardyce, he hopes Jones is being given the right advice as he appreciates how an unscrupulous agent could have a detrimental effect.[LNB]"You're always going to get speculation when a young lad emerges who has been so impressive as he has been over the seven (league) games he has played so far," added Allardyce.[LNB]"You're not surprised when it starts, so he has to make sure he doesn't read it, and we also hope he has a sensible agent.[LNB]"They can be the mischievous ones in this situation when they start calling other clubs and doing background work.[LNB]"Then they tell the player this club wants him, or that club wants him, and it turns his head. That happens many times, and it's the last thing we want."[LNB]Another of Allardyce's burgeoning crop is midfielder Steven Nzonzi who was plucked from relative obscurity just under a year ago from Amiens following their relegation into France's third tier.[LNB]Unsurprisingly, Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has been linked with his fellow Frenchman, who is only 21.[LNB]But like Jones, Allardyce concedes any offer for Nzonzi is going to have to be "huge" to tempt him, although is again wary of paper talk distracting such a young player.[LNB]"I took a chance with Steven many clubs would not have done," said Allardyce.[LNB]"When he arrived everybody said 'who is he?' and 'how is he going to be able to play in the Premier League?' But he has done.[LNB]"What we want to do is develop him further because there are still a lot of rough edges to him, which need knocking off, even though he's had a great season, no doubt about that.[LNB]"He needs fine tuning and turning into a better player than he is now, so my concern is that he keeps his feet firmly on the ground.[LNB]"If speculation surfaces that links him with other clubs it could create a problem.[LNB]"He could start getting carried away with himself when here is his best place to develop over the next two or three years, the same as Phil Jones."[LNB]Chris Samba, Brett Emerton, El Hadji Diouf and Vince Grella all come back into contention for the visit of Arsenal after missing last weekend's 1-1 draw at Wolves through injuries and illnesses.

Source: Team_Talk