Manchester United: Phil Jones to decide today whether or not to join Bordeaux

Phil Jones to decide today whether or not to join Bordeaux in a bid to get his career back on track after playing one match in TWO YEARS for Manchester United due to fitness problems

Phil Jones is weighing up whether or not to join Ligue 1 side Bordeaux
The defender has only played once in the last two years for Manchester United
Bordeaux want to add another versatile defender after signing Marcelo
Benfica considered an approach for Jones in January

By Simon Jones for the Daily Mail and Richard Martin For Mailonline

Published: 00:19 GMT, 31 January 2022 | Updated: 00:55 GMT, 31 January 2022

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Manchester United defender Phil Jones’s loan move to Bordeaux is in the balance.

The 29-year-old will make a decision today whether to join the French side. He is eager to play more regular football after making just one appearance this season, in the 1-0 home defeat to Wolves at the start of this month. Meanwhile, Stoke are signing Bordeaux forward Josh Maja on loan.

After excluding for Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny from their first team squad, Bordeaux signed 34-year-old Brazilian defender Marcelo from Lyon on Friday, but want to add another versatile defender.

Manchester United defender Phil Jones is considering whether or not to Bordeaux

Jones has only played one game since getting injured against Burnley in January 2020

Jones has played at centre-back, full-back and defensive midfield with United and previously Blackburn.

Though he has had to contend with injuries and other niggling fitness issues, Jones has been let down at times when fit to play.

His time on the periphery has proved a real mental challenge for the former England international and he wants to prove he still has life left in his career.

A number of English clubs have considered him but have been reluctant to offer anything other than a loan or pay as you play deal. Benfica also considered an approach before January.

Jones opened up on his injury pain in an emotional interview last year.

Jones won the a league title in 2013 but his time at United has been overshadowed by injuries

‘It was the lowest I’ve ever been as a human being,’ Jones told The Sunday Times on recovering from knee surgery in 2020.

‘I used to come back (from training) and be in bits. My head was an absolute mess. I’d be in tears. People and footballers, they’ll put on a front that everything’s all right, but you don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors.’

Jones also spoke of his anger at being described as a ‘waste of time’ by former United team-mate Rio Ferdinand and how he almost lashed out at a man who taunted him while he was out with his two daughters.

‘Listen, the respect I’ve got is enormous. I’ve shared a dressing room with Rio — great professional. Loved playing with him. Great lad, good humour. Learnt so much off him,’ he added. ‘But what he said was poor. Really poor.’