This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Middlesbrough are keeping tabs on the situation of Manchester United man Phil Jones ahead of the January transfer window, as per the Daily Star.

The 28-year-old centre-back who reportedly earns £100k-a-week at Old Trafford is out of favour at the club and is being earmarked as a potential signing for Boro and their Championship rivals Derby County.

So, what do you make of this from a Boro perspective? Would Phil Jones be a good addition?

The team here at FLW offer their thoughts.....

Chris Gallagher

What a signing this would be.

Boro are defending very well this season, which you would expect for a Neil Warnock side, but they could still do with another defender.

And, bringing in a player who has played at the highest level over the years would be a real coup.

Obviously, he would need to stay fit but if he played week in, week out, Jones would be a star performer at this level and could help the Teesside outfit to promotion.

Jake Sanders

A player that's won the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and made almost 30 appearances for England would appear a no-brainer in the Championship, but it's not that simple.

Jones has been horribly out of form for a while and has been short of minutes in recent seasons - making just 32 in all competitions in a little more than two and a half years.

However, it would be very Neil Warnock to rediscover his best form. Middlesbrough have shown in recent weeks that they might be up for a top-six charge, and therefore, Jones' experience could prove valuable, which is something that would certainly appeal to the Boro manager.

But it would appear quite an optimistic move by the Teeside outfit - especially with Jones' six-figure per-week wages.

 

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George Harbey

I think Middlesbrough should avoid this one.

Whilst Jones has struggled to impress at Old Trafford in recent years, he’s still capable of playing in the top-flight and doing well for a bottom-half side in my opinion.

But he’s likely to be on massive wages, and whether a club like Middlesbrough can afford those is another question entirely.

I think Boro have established himself as a really solid, well-drilled defensive unit under Warnock, and the fact they’ve only conceded five goals this season suggests that that area of the pitch doesn’t really need strengthening.

They have Grant Hall to come back from injury, too, and Nathan Wood showed what a talent he could turn out to be after an impressive performance against Nottingham Forest at the weekend.

I don’t think this is worth the risk.