MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly struggling to convince ANY clubs to put in a transfer bid for forgotten man Phil Jones.
The Manchester Evening News claim the 29-year-old is effectively unsellable as he has not played for the Red Devils in 18 months.
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Jones, who is tied to United for another two years, last featured in January 2020 having fallen out of favour before picking up a long-term knee injury.
And the England defender will fall even further down the pecking order when Raphael Varane arrives at Old Trafford from Real Madrid this week.
The Real Madrid star is set to partner Harry Maguire, with Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly staying on as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s preferred back-up options.
Jones still rakes in £4million-a-year after signing his latest deal a month before the Norwegian was installed as permanent boss in 2019.
And United have been unable to find anyone willing to take the centre-back – whose last game was a 6-0 FA Cup victory over Tranmere Rovers last year – off their hands.
SunSport previously reported that the ex-Blackburn star was one of TEN players the club wanted to sell this summer to fund moves for Kieran Trippier and Eduardo Camavinga.
Newcastle and Southampton had been made as joint-favourites to make a move for Jones but neither has yet launched an offer.
Former United boss David Moyes was also thought to be interested in reuniting with the 27-cap England international at West Ham.
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Solskjaer gave Jones a glimmer of hope that he could claw his way back into the Red Devils reckoning after expressing his sympathy, having struggled with injury himself during his playing days.
He said: “If he can play 23s to start with, behind closed doors, I know exactly the feeling of being out for so long.
“He’s always served the club well and it was time to look after him and his own health. Now he’s ready to train with us.”
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