This week, reports from the English media claimed that Manchester United defender Phil Jones may be on his way to Benfica next month.
It was said that given the Eagles’ need for a ‘versatile defender’, they could make a bid to have the 29-year-old on loan until the end of the season.
The news even made a little bit of noise in the Portuguese press on Tuesday night, when online outlets only echoed the story. Now as the local newspapers went after more information, they were actually quick to dismiss it.
Record and O Jogo today both feature very short stories to claim that the names of Phil Jones and Juventus’ Arthur Melo are not in Benfica’s plans, as they haven’t even been considered by the club.
Benfica already have Premier League veterans Jan Vertonghen and Nicolas Otamendi in their defence, and although it’d certainly be interesting to see Jones along them, it seems that isn’t happening.
The English defender, who joined Manchester United in a move from Blackburn Rovers in 2011, hasn’t played for the club’s first team this season. His contract runs until 2023.
