Venky's delay Jones sale to seek larger fee

Manchester United's attempts to sign Blackburn Rovers' defender Phil Jones have been held up the concerns of the selling club's Indian owners that he is being sold too cheaply.

United thought they had agreed a £16.5m fee with Rovers though Venky's believe that the £16m release clause in the 19-year-old's contract enabled clubs willing to lay out that sum to enter into negotiations. They value him at nearer £25m.

Despite Jones having passed a medical and agreed terms with United, whose £15m acquisition of Aston Villa's Ashley Young is complete, Venky's want to negotiate. Attempts were being made by the Indians' football advisers last night to spell out that the release clause means Rovers cannot reject an offer of that level.

Bebe, the virtually unknown Portuguese who signed for £7.4m last summer, has been sent out to Besiktas of Turkey on a 12-month loan. The 20-year-old leaves with a £2m option for the Turks to buy him.