Jermaine Jones Will Return To Schalke

The American international is under contract with Schalke until 2014, and the German club are looking to recoup a healthy transfer fee for Jones. According to Bild, Schalke are looking for a €12 million transfer for the midfielder. Blackburn have now backed out of the bidding unless the fee comes down.

Schalke have been looking to offload Jones this summer, but manager Ralf Rangnick says if Jones is 100% healthy then he will work him into the squad.

Jones has been with Schalke since joining the Gelsenkirchen club in 2007, leaving his hometown team, Eintracht Frankfurt. In 70 league matches, Jones has totaled five goals, one coming amidst this year’s 10 appearances. Of late, Jones has lost his place in Magath’s starting lineup, relegated to training outside the first team, precipitating this move.

Jones made his debut with the United States in late 2010. On October 9, 2010, Jones was in Bob Bradley’s starting lineup when the United States faced Poland.

Blackburn’s had bigger names linked to Ewood Park this window, but an out-of-favor midfielder from Gelsenchirken may prove Rovers’ first signing under new ownership. At least, if Sky Sports News is to be believed, Steve Kean could have a depth midfielder in his midst by the weekend.

That’s because U.S. international Jermaine Jones, out of favor with Bundesliga club Schalke 04, is on the verge of a switch to Lancashire. The 29-year-old has been frozen out of his former starting position for the Champions League club, but with the capability of playing the English Premier League’s quick, physical style of play, Jones would be a good fit for the talent-thin Rovers.