The morning papers, as collated by GoalZaza, have thrown a rather fascinating curveball into the quieter corners of the transfer window. The headline...
The morning papers, as collated by GoalZaza, have thrown a rather fascinating curveball into the quieter corners of the transfer window. The headline from Milan screams of an impatient Englishman. Phil Jones wants Inter, and he wants the move to happen now. It is a tale of two halves, isn't it A player whose career at Old Trafford has been a tragicomedy of injuries and misfortune versus a club in Inter that might just be the perfect sanctuary for a defender desperate to rebuild his name.Make no mistake, this is not the sort of speculative link you normally see in the pink pages. This feels personal. Jones, for all his meme worthy moments, was once a titan of a centre half. He had the raw aggression, the slide tackles that looked like they hurt, and the sheer determination to throw his body into the mixer. But that was years ago. The modern game has moved on. His body, sadly, did not keep up. Now, at 29, he is staring at a career that never quite lived up to the promise of that debut. And Inter are seemingly ready to offer him a lifeline.Why would Inter want a man who has barely kicked a ball in three seasons It is a curious gamble. Simone Inzaghi demands a high defensive line, and he requires his central defenders to be comfortable in transitional play. Jones, in his prime, had the pace and the grit for that. Does he still have it That is the million pound question. From a tactical perspective, this is a low risk, high reward punt. A free transfer for a player who, if he can stay fit, adds a different dimension to a back three. He offers that old school British centre half bite that Serie A used to love. The fans at the San Siro would take to him if he executed a full blooded challenge on a Lukaku or a Vlahovic. Squeaky bum time for the Inter medical staff, I imagine.But here is the rub. Jones is impatient. The report from GoalZaza suggests he wants the deal done immediately. He does not want to wait around for a Thursday night decision. This puts the power back in the player's hands, which is a rare sight these days. It also adds a layer of pressure on the Juventus meetings that are apparently scheduled. Could this be a direct play by Marotta to unsettle the Old Lady Quite possibly. If Inter can snap up Jones quickly, it forces Juve to look elsewhere for their defensive reinforcements. It is a classic game of chess. The real question for the Englishman is this: can he handle the heat of a Derby della Madonnina Or will the pressure cause his body to break down again I suspect we will find out very soon indeed.
