Stoke City assistant coach Mark Bowen has confirmed that the club are interested in signing Manchester United defender Phil Jones.
The 24-year-old was tipped to become a future England captain by Sir Alex Ferguson when he joined Manchester United from Blackburn Rovers in 2011.
However, a spate of injuries and lack of form has disrupted Jones's progress, and he is yet to make an appearance in Jose Mourinho's first team this season.
Reports emerged over the weekend claiming that Stoke want to sign the defender before the end of the transfer window this month, and now Bowen has suggested that the rumours are true.
"I don't know how close we are or how far down the line it's gone," Bowen told the Stoke Sentinel. "He's played the majority of his career at centre-half, but in his younger days he went into midfield as well.
"I don't know what's gone wrong, but he's gone from even a player Fergie was talking about as being someone who could have been one of the greats.
"But we have a bit of reputation for bringing players like that into this set up and then thriving. Fingers crossed, something may happen."
Stoke have not yet won a Premier League game this season following one draw and one defeat.
Danielle Joynson
