SOCCER:BLACKBURN ROVERS claim to have forced Manchester United into a compromise over the fee for Phil Jones after finally sanctioning the England Under-21 international's move to Old Trafford.
The 19-year-old agreed personal terms on a five-year contract and passed a medical on a €18.8 million transfer last Wednesday only for Venkys, Blackburn’s owner, to insist that clubs who met a €18 million release clause in the defender’s contract were entitled only to open negotiations and not guaranteed to complete a deal at that price. Lawyers from both clubs spent the weekend analysing the wording of the contract Jones was awarded in February, with Venkys threatening legal action over United allegedly receiving confidential information about the release clause. United said they had no case to answer and senior figures at Blackburn sanctioned the deal by allowing Jones to have a medical, only for the club’s owner to demand more amid interest from Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.
The Premier League champions remain adamant the deal for Jones is €18.8 million but, according to a Rovers statement confirming the transfer yesterday, Blackburn “announced a potential club record deal with Manchester United for young England defender Phil Jones”.
Their club record is the €19.3 million received from Chelsea for Damien Duff in 2003 – Manchester City paid €18 million rising to €20.5 million for Roque Santa Cruz but the additional €2.5 million has not been activated – indicating United agreed to add-ons in the final transfer.
Chris Smalling welcomed the signing of Jones by United, saying he is confident of replicating their international partnership at club level. “It’s brilliant,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed playing with him and it’s hard to think he’s only 19.
“Phil and I have been pretty good together for many games now. It’s been disappointing that Micah (Richards)] has not been able to come (to the European Under-21 Championship) but Phil’s come in and done well and we’ve been able to set our stall out.
“Hopefully we can play together for a few years.”
BIG MONEY TEENAGERS
WAYNE ROONEY
£27 million (€30m), Everton to Manchester United, 2004
Already an England international, and one of the hottest properties in European football, Rooney became the most expensive British teenager when he left Everton in 2004. Since signing for United, he has grown into one of the best forwards in Europe, winning four Premier League titles and the Champions' League in 2008.
THEO WALCOTT
£12 million (€13.5m), Southampton to Arsenal, 2006
Sven-Goran Eriksson shocked the footballing world by naming the 17-year-old in his 2006 World Cup squad, just five months after Arsenal signed him from Championship Southampton. Since his move, Walcott's form has fluctuated, but he has become a regular in the England set-up.
GARETH BALE
£10 million (€11m, including add-ons), Southampton to Tottenham, 2007
Bale struggled in his first two years at Spurs, as the north London side failed to win any of the first 24 league games he started. However, after converting from a left-back to an out-and-out left winger, the young Welshman has flourished. A Champions' League hat-trick against Inter at the San Siro and some stellar performances in the league earned him this season's PFA Players' Player of the Year Award and interest from some of the world's biggest clubs.
