A report by Fichajes has revealed that Manchester City utility man John Stones has offered his services to Barcelona. The English international will leave the Premier League club as a free agent in the summer transfer window, and Barcelona can secure a bargain deal by landing him for nothing.
The 31-year-old central defender will be out of contract at the end of the season. Signing the versatile English defender for free could be an interesting option for the Catalan club. They need more quality and depth in the defensive unit.
Stones could be an excellent addition for them in the short term. The Englishman has proven himself for club and country over the years, particularly since his £47.5 million move from Everton, and there is no doubt he has the quality to succeed in La Liga as well. The opportunity to play for the Spanish champions will be exciting for the player as well.
The 31-year-old can operate as a central defender, a fullback, or a defensive midfielder. His versatility would be a huge bonus for Barcelona if they can get the deal done. They are going through financial difficulties, and signing up a layer of his quality and experience for free could be a tempting opportunity.
Stones has been linked with a return to his former club, Everton, as well. He is likely to get more opportunities at the English club next season. At 31, he is still good enough to play every week, and he should look to join a club that will give him regular opportunities. It will be interesting to see if Barcelona is willing to provide him with the necessary assurance.
Barcelona will be hoping to win the league title and the UEFA Champions League next season. They need a deeper squad so that they can do well across multiple competitions. The 31-year-old would be a very useful option for them at the back.
Apart from his quality as a player, his leadership skills and winning experience would be invaluable for the Barcelona dressing room. He has been consistently competing at a high level, and he knows what it takes to push for major trophies every season.
Everton could also be an interesting option for the player for sentimental reasons, but he might be attracted to the idea of winning major trophies again.
