Source: Daily_Mail
Sam Allardyce backs Phil Jones to shine for Manchester United and England
ShareFormer Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce expects Phil Jones to form a golden defensive partnership with Chris Smalling at Manchester United.[LNB]Jones, Blackburn's highly-rated 19-year-old centre-back, is poised to join the Barclays Premier League champions in a deal thought to be worth around ?16million.[LNB]The player is now on international duty with England Under-21s but is understood to have agreed terms and passed a medical at United.[LNB] United front: Allardyce rates Jones to flourish at United and England[LNB]It is understood only legal formalities are left to be finalised before Jones officially follows 21-year-old Smalling, who left Fulham in a ?10million deal last summer, to Old Trafford.[LNB]The youngsters will have much to do to dislodge first-choice pair Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic but Allardyce believes their future together is bright.[LNB]Allardyce, who is now at West Ham but handed Jones his senior debut last year, told the BBC: 'Phil is obviously going to flourish now at Manchester United because he links up with Chris Smalling.[LNB]'Again, he was bought by Manchester United from Fulham after only playing a handful of games. That was around ?10million and this is ?15million and rising - it shows that young talent today is very expensive.'[LNB] England duty: Jones is currently with the Under 21 squad in Denmark[LNB] [LNB] Jones has made a big impression at Ewood Park in a short space of time, and recovered well from a three-month knee injury lay-off to finish the 2010-11 season strongly.[LNB]Allardyce added: 'I think eventually, with a little more experience, which is going to gain more quickly at Manchester United, he will ultimately become an England defender.'[LNB]Jones is not the only source of transfer speculation surrounding United, with reports increasingly suggesting the club are closing in on Aston Villa forward Ashley Young.[LNB]It was claimed Young's representatives met with United officials yesterday but there has been no comment from either the Red Devils or Villa.[LNB] Eastbound and down: Allardyce has the task of returning West Ham to the Premier League[LNB]Young, 25, has been valued at around ?20million even though he has just one year remaining on his Villa contract.[LNB]He has also been linked with Liverpool but his future may not be resolved immediately as he is getting married this weekend. Roger that! Blackburn want ?10m Johnson to replace United-bound JonesRevealed: Manchester United open talks with Nasri as Young deal nears completionWest Ham ponder ?750k swoop for Southend teenager - and Rio's cousin - Kane FerdinandAll the latest Blackburn news, features and opinionAll the latest Manchester United news, features and opinion All the latest West Ham news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Rio Ferdinand, Sam Allardyce, Nemanja Vidic, Ashley Young Places: Liverpool, United Kingdom
