Manchester United 'to take up 12-month option on Phil Jones deal'

Manchester United will extend defender Phil Jones's deal by a further year before the end of the month, according to a report.

The 26-year-old, who has been at Old Trafford since joining from Blackburn Rovers in 2011, is due to be out of contract next summer.

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have both been tipped to move for Jones, who has been used just twice in all competitions this season.

United have no intention of letting the England international leave for nothing, though, and The Sun claims that he will be tied down for a further 12 months before December.

The report suggests that Jose Mourinho still values Jones, but bringing in a new centre-back remains a top priority for 2019.