Manchester United has its centerback of the future.
United has a deal in place for Blackburn and England Under-21 centerback Phil Jones for £17 million that will bring him to Old Trafford this summer.
Jones, 19, reportedly passed on offers from Arsenal and Liverpool to join United, where he'll enter the season behind Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand while competing with Chris Smalling for positioning on the depth chart.
Here are a few more stories from around the soccer world:
LIVERPOOL, SUNDERLAND AGREE ON HENDERSON FEE
While Liverpool appears to have missed out on Jones, it will add a different England U-21 star in Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson.
The two clubs have agreed on a £20 million fee for his services, although various reports suggest that the price may drop to around £13 million with David N'Gog being part of the package that is sent to Sunderland.
Henderson, 20, had three goals and five assists for Sunderland this past season and was a key contributor in the team's 10th-place finish.
NEUER COMPLETES BAYERN MOVE
Manuel Neuer is officially a Bayern Munich goalkeeper.
Neuer, whose transfer from Schalke to Bayern was announced last week, passed his physical and has joined the German power on a five-year deal.
Neuer helped guide Schalke to the UEFA Champions League semifinals, but he was long-rumored to be leaving the club, and Bayern was the favorite, although there was speculation that he could move abroad to Manchester United.
BRAZIL NAMES COPA AMERICA SQUAD
Brazil is one of the favorites to win this summer's Copa America, and coach Mano Menezes has called upon the 22 men who he believes can get the job done. Here is Brazil's squad:
GOALKEEPERS – Victor (Gremio), Julio Cesar (Inter Milan).
DEFENDERS – Lucio (Inter Milan), Maicon (Inter Milan), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), David Luiz (Chelsea), Luisao (Benfica), Andre Santos (Fenerbahce), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Adriano (Barcelona).
MIDFIELDERS – Lucas (Sao Paulo), Lucas Leiva (Liverpool), Elano (Santos), Elias (Atletico Madrid), Jadson (Shakhtar Donetsk), Ramires (Chelsea), Sandro (Tottenham), Paulo Henrique Ganso (Santos).
FORWARDS – Alexandre Pato (AC Milan), Robinho (AC Milan), Neymar (Santos), Fred (Fluminense).
The tournament, hosted by Argentina, kicks off July 1, and the winner clinches a place in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. Since Brazil is hosting the Confederations Cup, the runner-up would qualify for that tournament should Brazil win Copa America.
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What do you think about the signings for Manchester United and Liverpool? Do you see Bayern Munich making a deep European run with Neuer in goal? What do you think of Brazil's chances to win Copa America?
Share your thoughts below.
I guess I haven’t see Jones or Henderson play enough to make a solid judgement but I find the prices shockingly high. Maybe they are the next Gerrard and Ferdinand (if so the price if fine) but that’s pretty unlikely. 37 million pounds sounds damn high.
I’m shocked to see him willingly drop wads of money on a kid who won’t necessarily be an immediate upgrade or like-for-like replacement to a regular starter.
It makes sense that United would splash the cash on de Gaea as heir apparent for Van der Sar, but I would have thought a guy like Ganso who can run the midfield and always make the right pass quickly just like the now retired Scholes would have been the overwhelming priority in the $20m price range.
Jones is a great purchase for the future, but not for that much money. Couldn’t they have just waited til he was a free transfer or much cheaper and gotten him as a more mature player in two years time when Rio is looking to retire?
I think Saurez was worth the fee. The other two, not so much.
Yeah that is a shame. Their youth program is just horrible! Who won the FA Youth Cup this year? It seems to have slipped my mind.
He and Zidane will go down as the greatest of that generation
Yeah no joke. Fernando Torres cost Liverpool 20 million pounds just a few years ago, and people said that was an insane price.
Anyone else surprised that United is to sign Jones. I thought Smalling was outstanding this year. Guess you can never have too much cover. Plus I think Rio’s injuries have just about caught up with him…
Bayern need to shore up that defense (aside from Lahm). Neuer will help, but not solve their defensive issues. Although maybe the new manager can help them help themselves. Who knows?
Ronaldo is the classic case of being taken for granted and even made fun of (fat, etc.) when it appeared Brazil would eternally top world football…then he’s gone, Brazil is faltering, and it’s sunk in just how important he was for them and that his kind may not come along again for a decade or two.
His legend will only grow and the late ’90s/early 2000s will forever be known as the Ronaldo Era for Brazil.
I was wondering what happened to Fred…
I would have liked to see Kaka in this group but I guess he’s not at 100% yet. I’m beginning to wonder why Ze Eduardo of Santos doesn’t get called up he seems to enjoy much success playing next to Neymar and in front of Ganso. I know some might say it’s because of Neymar but I’ve seen a lot of great goals from him that show HIS ability to lose defenders and shot past them. I don’t know his age too so that might have something to do with it?
Ganso is the future of the Brazilian team. I guess Luis Fabiano is totally out? Hope Ronaldinho gets back on track
I think they’re very good young players, just not 20 million pound (or 35 in the case of Andy Carroll) players.
And they aren’t even very good players.
Well said – it’s just oo bad United can’t actually produce players anymore and rely and signing other teams best.
Meaning, those teams always stay at the bottom and the title race is always a boring one.
Rooney, Smalling, Jones…
Seriously. It’s insane how much having an English passport jacks up the price.
Today, redemption is spelled B-O-B.
Amazing how much being an England youth international inflates a transfer fee.
What a coup for teams like Fenerbahce and Shaktar to have current Brasil national teamers.
O/T but is my boy Dempsey leaving Fulham after the Gold Cup?
lol so true
the rich get richer
GANSO!!!!!!!!! cant wait for this!
Was anyone impressed with me not starting gooch? i finally realized he has the technical ability of a 3 legged dog
Frederico, Frederinho and Freddie were already taken, so he was stuck with Fred.
With Jones and Smalling Unite has the two most promising English CBs.
+1, he was great as always!! Very sad to see him go. The real Ronaldo!!
All those exotic Brazilian names, and then you have Fred.
After Ronaldo’s showing last night, I was certain he would make the Copa America squad last night.
Alas, he must have been the last man cut.