By Danny Wright

15th Mar, 2018 | 1:51pm

Newcastle must join Everton in reported hunt for £50,000-a-week PL winning enforcer

COMMENT

Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez may find himself frustrated yet again in the summer transfer window unless Mike Ashley decides to dig deep and allow him to improve the squad.

If handed the funds, one player that Benitez must definitely look at to improve his defensive options is Manchester United’s Phil Jones after the Times reported that Everton are in the hunt to sign him as he nears the final year of his contract at Old Trafford.

Jones, 26, is a centre-back who could easily improve Newcastle’s current defence.

While the 24-times England international has received a lot of criticism during his spell at Man United, he is perhaps out of his depth at a team challenging for major honours and could do with a switch down the table to a team who is looking to fight for the top-half.

Everton manager Sam Allardyce is said to be in constant contact with the enforcer he gave his debut to while managing Blackburn, but there’s every chance that the ex-Newcastle and West Ham boss will be sacked at the end of the season.

The Daily Star has reported that Jones is earning £50,000-a-week at Old Trafford, which is not a lot of money considering how much United pay to their other players, making it likely that Newcastle could afford a summer swoop for him.

Jones also has the experience of winning a Premier League title, so he could do at St. James’ Park what Jonny Evans did when he moved to West Brom and suddenly become worth over £20million after finding a new lease of life.

In other Newcastle United news, the Magpies must swoop for this Premier League centre-forward in the summer after reports of a mass exodus.

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