Phil Jones Completes Manchester United Move

Manchester United has today confirmed that they have signed Blackburn Rovers' Phil Jones; the defender has joined the Old Trafford outfit on a five-year contract.

The defender is currently in Denmark with England’s Under 21 squad which is competing in the U21 European Championship. Jones had a terrific last season for Blackburn Rovers and played a pivotal role in the team’s Premier League survival. Now with both Chris Smalling and Phil Jones in the same team the U21 central defender pair are seen as United’s future top level defenders.

The fee for Jones is believed to be around the £16.5m mark, which effectively triggered a buyout clause in the player’s contract at Blackburn forcing the club to sell the U21 player.

"Manchester United is delighted to announce it has signed an agreement with Blackburn Rovers for the transfer of Phil Jones," said a United statement.

"The player passed a medical in Manchester last week and has agreed a five-year contract.

"The deal will be completed once the player returns from international duty."

The deal could become a potential record deal for Blackburn and the club have released a statement on behalf of the owners, board and manager.

"Much as we would love him to stay on with us, and we made all efforts to convince him to stay, Phil has to finally follow his heart," read the statement. (Not to mention the pay cheque!).

"We are extremely happy with his contribution to our team and we wish him all the very best in his future endeavours."

Blackburn Rover's statement may well indicate a certain gritting of the teeth but with United willing to buy out such a young player only the future will show if Jones is worth it.

Blackburn Boss Signs Long-Term Contract

Blackburn owners have awarded caretaker boss Steve Kean a contract extension to keep him in charge at Ewood Park until the summer of 2013, Indian owners decided to sack Allardyce and put Kean in temporary charge in December.

Kean was initially appointed until the end of the season and the owner’s feels he had done enough to be rewarded with an extension.

Kean joined Rovers as first-team coach in 2009 and is relishing the challenge of trying to take the club forward over the next two-and-a-half years.

He told the club's official website: "I am delighted to commit my future to Rovers at the start of what I see as a massively exciting new era for the club.

"The owners have shown great faith in me and I will do all I can to repay them.

"This is a great opportunity for me and I intend to grasp it with both hands."

Venky's chairperson Anuradha Desai fully expects Kean to be successful in the job after being impressed by what she has seen from him so far.

"We have great confidence in Steve, someone who impresses us with his work ethic, enthusiasm, positivity and football philosophy," she said.

"We feel that the playing squad is in very safe and capable hands and we look forward to working with him.

"Stability is very important to us and this contract is further evidence of our desire to achieve such stability at the club."

Roque Santa-Cruz Rejoins Blackburn

Blackburn Rovers have secured the return of Roque Santa Cruz from Manchester City, the Paraguayan will join the club on loan until the end of the season, the striker netted 23 times from 57 games for Blackburn during the 2007/2009 seasons before signing for Manchester City for 17.5 .

However that 29-year-old has struggled to maintain a first team place and City manager Mancini has happy to let the striker go out on loan, Santa-Cruz is Steve Kean’s newest signing since taking over at Blackburn and he would like to make the move permanent if he impresses.

"Roque had a fantastic time when he was first here and he showed his quality," said Kean. "Hopefully he'll do that again until the end of the season.

"It's massive from his point of view because he doesn't have to settle in at a new club. He's coming back to a place that was special to him and I'm sure he's going to deliver just as good or even better.

"We're trying to speak to Manchester City at the moment regarding an option about signing Roque at the end of the season, so we don't know about that yet.

"It's something we'll ask for, but we don't know if they'll commit to it."

Tom Huddlestone ruled out for months

Spurs have been dealt with a major blow with the news that midfielder Tom Huddlestone will be ruled out for up to three months after being told that he requires surgery on an ankle injury.

The midfielder missed the Blackburn game at the weekend and has now been told he will be sidelined for three months and won't be back in action until February at the latest.

A statement from Tottenham's official website said, "Following consultation with several independent ankle specialists, it has been determined that Tom Huddlestone will undergo surgery on his right ankle.

"The procedure is likely to rule the England international out of action for around three months."

Joey Barton accepts 3-match ban

Joey Barton has received a three match ban following an incident with Blackburn's Morten Gamst Pedersen during Newcastle's 2-1 defeat at St James Park on Wednesday night, the referee didn't the incident during the game and Barton went unpunished, but following video evidence the Newcastle man is clearly seen punching the Norwegian in the chest.

The Football Association reviewed the video evidence and has therefore issued a three match ban to midfielder, Barton will now miss the following games against Fulham, Bolton & Chelsea. The 28 year old has decided not to appeal against the decision, he has accepted the charge from the FA and has issued an apology.

"I fully accept that I was in the wrong on this occasion and accept the charge that the FA have brought against me," said Barton.

"I would like to apologise to Chris Hughton, my team-mates, our supporters and of course to Morten Gamst Pedersen and Blackburn Rovers.

"This season, I have really been enjoying my football and although I have been on the receiving end of a few robust challenges, I have, up until now, remained calm in the face of provocation and just carried on with the game.

"But I hold my hands up, I reacted badly to the situation on Wednesday night and I deeply regret it.

"I have been working very hard to keep that side of my game under control and I think it has showed in the way I have been able to get on and enjoy my football this season.

"I look forward to trying to get back into the team once my suspension is over and helping the club maintain its good start to the season."

Newcastle Manager Chris Hughton added, "We accept the action taken by the FA, and it is of course disappointing to lose Joey for three games," said the manager.

"He has worked so hard on his game this season, but he knows that he can't react the way he did on Wednesday."

Joey Barton punches Morton Gamst Pedersen:

Twitter Brings Robbie Savage & Rio Ferdinand together

Rio & Robbie Twitter Fans

Rio Ferdinand and Robbie Savage have never been the best of friends and let's face it - they weren't afraid for anyone and everyone to know it.

However, Rio has revealed how Twitter has brought him together with rival Robbie Savage. Ferdinand and football's Mr Marmite have had numerous encounters with each other on the pitch, including a half-time bust-up during Blackburn's Carling Cup semi-final at Old Trafford in 2006.

Savage admits in his autobiography, that during that particular incident he kicked Rio in the tunnel (which sounds painful on any level). Ferdinand also got sent off three weeks later after a challenge on Savage.

Generally, the two were not getting along very well.  To say the least.

However, social networking comes along like a benign fairy godmother and sprinkles fairy dust on the pair of them.  Both players are huge fans of the social networking site that is Twitter and can regualrly be seen poking fun at each other and exchanging banter like the regular guys that they are..

“I actually hated him. I hated him as a person, I didn’t like him,” Rio told Football Focus and not in a flouncy, childish or immature way at all.

“I didn’t know him. As a football thing. I got sent off in a game. I thought he was acting and he made more of it and I thought I didn’t like him, he’s not my type of guy...and then Twitter brought us together.”

'After Rio comments on Football Focus, Robbie Savage tweeted, “It's official ! Rio loves me ! I love you to Rio xx.”

Of course, the path of true love never runs smooth and it is only a matter of time before the pair fall out of their double pram and in to the headlines again - for all the wrong reasons.

We would say we warned you when it happens, but it's not exactly rocket science, is it?