Blackburn boss Steve Kean has revealed how the opportunity to play for Manchester united was too good for Phil Jones to turn down.
Boss Kean claims Rovers did their best to keep young defender
Blackburn boss Steve Kean has revealed how the opportunity to play for Manchester united was too good for Phil Jones to turn down.
The Premier League champions confirmed on Monday that they have signed an agreement to land the 19-year-old on a five-year deal once he returns from England Under 21 duty.
The defender signed an extension at Ewood Park in February until 2016 and the club's owners, Venkys, were determined to keep hold of their prized asset. But Jones wanted the chance to test himself at the top level.
"We offered Phil the biggest contract in Blackburn Rovers' history but it quickly became apparent it wasn't about money, which was understandable to a certain extent," Kean told
Sky Sports News.
"Phil wants to play Champions League football and he wants to play it now. We're not at that level yet but I'm sure we will be in the coming years.
Real good fight
"That was the thing that was really exciting about going to Manchester United. But we gave it a real good fight, gave him a fantastic offer, and we understand why he wants to go now.
"He's been a great young player and he's one that's come through our academy."
United met the release clause of £16.5million but will add-ons such as appearance-related payments, Blackburn could ultimately pocket over £20m from the deal.
"It's a very big fee but that never detracted from the fact that the owners wanted to keep him," Kean added.
"I sat down and said how he's one of the lads that's come through alongside Junior Hoilett, Martin Olsson and Grant Hanley.
"They said 'make him the biggest offer you want to make him', but as it was, he wants to go in the Champions League now and we're not quite there yet.
"I'm sure Phil and his representatives will verify that the offer we made to him was staggering for a 19-year-old but that's what we thought of him.
"He loves Blackburn Rovers, he's a Blackburn Rovers fan, and maybe in the future he'll come back later in his career.
Blessing
"He goes now with our blessing and it's now an opportunity for us to invest in some other young players across different parts of the pitch and take the club forward with the blessing of the owners and the investment we're going to make."
Arsenal are thought to be interested in fellow defender Chris Samba but he too is on a long-term contract so Kean insists Rovers will only sell for big money.
"We're protecting in our investments," he added. "I'll have a meeting with the senior players on July 1 and we're fight off as many bids as we can.
"When you're moving well as a club and playing well, which we certainly did at the end of the season, you're going to attract interest from the bigger clubs.
"But the owners are going to fight tooth and nail, along with myself, to keep hold onto our best players."
