United kick off summer spree by beating Liverpool to £16m Rovers defender Jones

Manchester United are closing in on their first signing of the summer after agreeing a £16million deal for Blackburn defender Phil Jones.

Sir Alex Ferguson has beaten off interest from Liverpool and Arsenal to capture Jones's signature.

The England Under 21 centre-half will pen a five-year deal at Old Trafford after completing a medical this afternoon.

United have been tracking Jones for the last 18 months, but their hand was forced when Liverpool recently entered the market for the 19-year-old stopper.

Arsenal are believed to have spoken to Jones on Tuesday night, but he opted to join Ferguson's side instead.

Jones only signed a new five-year contract at Ewood Park in February but that deal contained a release clause, which United have met.

United were initially hoping to offer players plus cash for the teenager but Liverpool were willing to pay the money, forcing United to cough up.

Jones faces stiff competition for a place in the centre of the Premier League champions' defence, with the likes of Rio Ferdinand, captain Nemanja Vidic, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans all on the books at Old Trafford.

But the Preston-born player has made a big impression since making his Barclays Premier League debut in March last year, and his arrival could raise question marks over the future of Evans in particular.

Jones was due to jet off to Denmark today with the rest of the England Under 21 squad.

thats a lot of money to spend on a defender.

arfa the mag wrote:thats a lot of money to spend on a defender.

bloody ugly one too