Manchester United transfer news: Phil Jones to feature in Jose Mourinho's plans as club considers Jose Fonte - reports

All the latest news and gossip from Old Trafford on Wednesday 24 August

Phil Jones in training with Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Getty)

In a bid to block to a potential move to either Arsenal or Stoke, Phil Jones has been told by the club hierarchy that his future lies at Old Trafford for the time being. The England international last played for United against Swansea City last January and has struggled to make his way back into the starting line-up ever since.

Although Stoke and Arsenal could both offer Jones the guarantee of first-team football, Jose Mourinho intends that the 24-year-old will be part of his plans. According to the Guardian, the defender himself is believed to be keen to stay at the club in a bid to prove his worth to Mourinho.

And while the bulk of the business this transfer window may have been completed there is still interest it seems in Southampton defender Jose Fonte.

Mourinho is keen to add an experienced centre-back to his squad and the club are willing to wait until deadline day to test Southampton’s resolve with an exceptional offer.

But while United have been linked with Fonte for much of summer, the impressive starts enjoyed by both Eric Bailly and Daley Blind has convinced Mourinho that the 32-year-old may no longer be a crucial requirement for the club, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Although Wayne Rooney won’t be leaving United anytime soon, it has been suggested that the England international may be prepared in the coming future to join former Premier League greats such as Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard in making the move to the MLS.

Merritt Paulson, owner of the MLS champions Portland Timbers, confirmed to the Daily Mirror that American franchises are closely monitoring Rooney, and are determined to convince him to move to the US rather than China.

Paulson said: “I would argue he still has some good soccer ahead of him. I think he would be a great signing for MLS - 100 per cent MSL would be attractive for him.”

Lastly, the Daily Mirror has claimed that Manchester United are willing to accept just £2m in order to part with Bastian Schweinsteiger.

The 32-year-old has been told that he has no future at the club – one year after joining in a £7m deal. The club are ready to accept a nominal fee in a bid to get his £190,000-a-week wages off their pay roll.

The former Bayern Munich star has reportedly been training with the youth sides at United’s Carrington training and has not even featured in the reserve team.