Sam Allardyce hopes to be kept on at Everton and wants to begin building his own squad.
Allardyce took over at Goodison Park in November but, for the most part, he has relied on the players assembled by his predecessor, Ronald Koeman.
With his future currently up in the air, Allardyce remains hopeful of staying on as Toffees boss next season and he is already compiling a shortlist of players to improve the squad and return the club to the position where its supporters feel it belongs.
Jack Wilshere has been linked with a move, with the Arsenal midfielder yet to agree on a contract extension at the Emirates.
And Allardyce is also understood to be keen on a reunion with Manchester United defender Phil Jones, who was given his professional debut by Big Sam back in 2009.
Allardyce was in charge of Blackburn at the time and was so impressed by Jones, who had been a part of the club’s youth set-up since 2002, that he promoted the defender to the first team.
Jones spent two seasons at Ewood Park before he moved to United for a fee believed to be in the region of £16.5 million.
Touted at the time as one of England’s most promising defensive prospects, Jones was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson to learn from the likes of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand but his progress at Old Trafford has been hampered by injuries and long spells out of the team.
Jones has made 21 appearances for the Red Devils this season but is clearly behind the likes of Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof in the pecking order and with more defensive reinforcements expected this summer, he could be best served to move on and look to revive his career elsewhere.
The 26-year-old’s contract at United expires at the end of next season but current manager Jose Mourinho has the option to extend it automatically by a year.
Whether he chooses to offer Jones an improved deal or cashes in on him this summer remains to be seen and so too does Allardyce’s future.
But one thing’s for certain. Everton fans are not exactly thrilled by the stories linking Jones with a move to Goodison.
https://twitter.com/Bradley_Cates/status/973838201344405504
https://twitter.com/Kwiyyojibajaba/status/973858854856544257
Phil Jones no thanks utter shite
— DYCHE OUT (@johnocallagha11) March 14, 2018
Who the fuck at Everton thinks this fukin backwards fukin shit player is any good ??whoever that is get the fuck out of my club you idiot
— John ( keysey) (@keysey1878) March 14, 2018
that’s good enough reason to sack him, Phil Jones is shite!
— David Brisco (@DBrisco72) March 14, 2018
Who the fuck builds a team around Phil Jones.
— Marc Walton (@MarcWal74507178) March 14, 2018
Phil Jones is clearly a Sam type of player but he isn’t good enough for Everton , we need to be looking beyond average !
— Joanna Mc (@mc_joannamarie) March 14, 2018
