Manchester City prepared to sell John Stones
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are reportedly set to sanction the departure of John Stones amidst interest from Everton and West Ham United.
According to a report from Graeme Bailey on TBR Football, Manchester City are ready to part ways with John Stones, who has not had the best of seasons this time around. They are ready to move him on, and there is interest in his services from Everton and West Ham United.
Stones made a name for himself at Everton. His consistent performances earned him a move to Manchester City in the summer of 2016. They forked out £48 million to add him to their squad. While he has been an integral part of Pep Guardiola’s team over the years, the 30-year-old has struggled to stay fit this season.
The Englishman has missed 26 matches this season, and he has featured in just 20 fixtures, accumulating a little over 1,100 minutes of first-team action. In his absence, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias have been the go-to pairing for Guardiola.
His lack of availability has frustrated Manchester City, and they are planning to move him on this summer, even though his versatility makes him and asset. The Manchester-based giants are all set to undergo a rebuild when Hugo Viana takes charge as their new sporting director.
Stones to switch clubs in the summer
While the focus will be on adding more quality, they will also let go of a few of their stars, and Stones is one of the names on that list. Everton and West Ham United have emerged as potential destinations for the 30-year-old.
There is interest in him from the Middle East, but he may prefer to stay in Europe for now. The Toffees enjoy a strong relationship with Stones and could look to capitalise on that to bring him back. Meanwhile, David Moyes has just three recognised centre-backs in his squad, and signing someone with Stones’ experience would be a major boost for Everton.
West Ham boss Graham Potter also seeks more quality and depth at the back, and his club are interested in making a move for the City star. Stones could enjoy a prominent role at both clubs but his wages could be an issue.
Since he will only have a year left on his deal in the summer, it will be interesting to see how much Manchester City want to recoup for the English centre-back.
