MANCHESTER UNITED defender Phil Jones is being lined up by Bordeaux to replace the exiled Laurent Koscienly, reports suggest.
The 36-year-old veteran, who spent nine years at Arsenal before joining Bordeaux in 2019, has found himself out in the cold at the French side.
Following a string of injuries, Koscienly’s been deemed surplus to requirements by Bordeaux and has also been stripped of the captain’s armand.
There doesn’t seem to be a way back into the Bordeaux fold for the ex-Gunners captain and the club’s president Gerard Lopez admitted that they’re keen to get rid of the fallen star in this month’s transfer window.
Koscienly’s understandably incensed over the issue and has likened his treatment to a ‘slap in the face.’
And now, to add insult to injury, the Ligue 1 outfit have identified Koscienly’s former rival and United stalwart Jones as his replacement, according to L’Equipe.
The Girondins are keen to bulk up their squad after offloading Brazilian defensive midfielder Otavio to Atlético Mineiro on loan.
Plus, former Sunderland striker Josh Maja is on the verge of leaving the club to return to England and join Stoke City on loan – with an option to buy embedded in the transfer, L’Equipe added.
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Although Jones has hardly kicked a ball in two years at Old Trafford due to injury, Bordeaux still have faith in his capabilities.
Jones made his first appearance for the Red Devils since 2020 against Wolves at the start of the month to fill in for the crocked Harry Maguire.
But the 29-year-old never missed a beat during the clash and was given a standing ovation by United’s faithful despite failing to stop Wolves cruising to a shock 1-0 win over the Red Devils.
The man he replaced on the night, Maguire, was also full of praise for Jones after the game and said to United’s media: “I think we have all seen Phil coming back from two years out and he was outstanding when he played.
“You know, it made me really happy to see him step back out on the pitch.”
There have even been calls for Jones to be given a chance to return to the England set-up by talkSPORT presenter Andy Goldstein.
It’s been a remarkable career turnaround for Jones who’s gone from being football’s forgotten man – to a wanted man in the space of a month.
