MANCHESTER: Manchester United said yesterday that England Under-21 defender Phil Jones was set to join the Premier League champions from top-flight rivals Blackburn Rovers on a five-year deal. United thought Jones was heading to Old Trafford last week, only for old foes Liverpool to intervene with a reported £20mn offer. However, Jones is understood to have told Rovers he only wanted to move to United and that has left Blackburn having to accept an offer for the 19-year-old believed to be in the region of £16.5mn. “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.”