Jones exit to spark bid war

Phil Jones has set the stage for a bidding war among the Premier League's top clubs by telling Blackburn that he is ready to leave Ewood Park this summer.

The highly-rated England U21 defender and his agent had a brief meeting with manager Steve Kean at Blackburn's Brockhall training ground on Monday morning when Jones is believed to have indicated that he feels the time is right to make the step up to a bigger club.

The 19-year-old flies to Denmark with Stuart Pearce's squad on Wednesday for the European Championships, but he has asked that his agent be kept informed of any interest. 

Liverpool and Arsenal are currently at the front of the queue with the player's camp said to favour a move to Anfield.

However Blackburn sources have confirmed that  Alex Ferguson expressed an interest in January, and both Manchester United and neighbours City could enter the equation once the bidding begins.

Jones has been valued at £15million but Blackburn are adamant they will not sell for less than the club record £18m banked from Roque Santa Cruz's move to City two years ago.

Nikola Kalinic, signed as a replacement for Santa Cruz that summer, is also expected to leave Ewood Park after scoring just seven Premier League goals in two seasons, although Blackburn accept they will have to take a loss on a player who cost £6m from Hajduk Split.

Source: Daily Mail