Everton fans want Allardyce sacked before he signs Phil Jones

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Reports suggest Everton manager Sam Allardyce wants Phil Jones, who is facing an uncertain future at Premier League rivals Manchester United.

In Everton’s top six heyday under David Moyes, their success was built on a stingy, combative back line, which makes the haphazard nature of their defensive performances in the current campaign all the more painful.

Even the arch pragmatist Sam Allardyce has been unable to turn Ashley Williams and Michael Keane into a half-decent centre-back pairing. As a result, Everton have the fifth worst defensive record in the Premier League this season.

And, if you believe Everton fans, signing Phil Jones from Manchester United in the summer will not go far to solving the problem that started under Roberto Martinez and has got worse season on season.

The Times claims that Allardyce, who gave Jones his debut at Blackburn Rovers as a teenager, is keen to reunite with the 26-year-old this summer and build his defence around him.

But considering the injury-prone Jones has never started more than 26 games in a league season in eight years at United, and remains capable of the most schoolboy errors, it is understandable that Everton fans are feeling a little underwhelmed.

Jones has plenty of talent and time to improve but, in truth, this transfer smacks of a lack of ambition and imagination. Another reason, then, for Everton to give Big Sam the big boot come the end of the campaign.