Manchester City are ready to move on from John Stones this summer, TBR Football can exclusively reveal.
Stones arrived at Man City from Everton back in 2016 and has since gone on to make 277 appearances for the club, winning six Premier League titles.
However, the 30-year-old has endured a tough campaign and has started just six league matches this season owing to his injury issues.
City have predominantly relied on the likes of Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias in the middle and Pep Guardiola hasn’t often been able to include Stones in his plans.
And given how often he’s been missing, City are now ready to make a tough decision when it comes to Stones’ future beyond the summer.
John Stones could leave Man City as part of defensive rebuild
TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey understands that City are frustrated by Stones lack of availability and now plan to move the defender on.
City are set for something of a rebuild when Hugo Viana arrives as their new sporting director this summer.
Kevin De Bruyne is leaving City and Ederson and Bernado Silva could also follow him out of the Etihad.
It’s understood that City are concerned about their defence despite the January additions of Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis and they could yet make a major central defensive addition.
Indeed, TBR are told that Khusanov and Reis will need to prove that they can be part of City’s squad next season — there’s a chance that both could be looked at for loans.
City also signed Juma Bah in January who is currently on loan at Lens and he is another name that could come under consideration.
Who could sign John Stones?
In terms of where Stones could go this summer, there is interest from the Saudi Pro League.
In addition, there are also multiple Premier League sides who would consider a move, the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion, Everton and West Ham United.
Juventus are also big fans of the England international who would be short of interest.
However, there could be an issue in terms of any of those clubs being willing to pay big money for Stones in lieu of his injury issues.
City paid £48m to sign Stones from Everton in 2016 but it remains to be seen what kind of fee they would now want to recoup for the defender.
Stones has one year left on his contract at the Etihad and his future will be very interesting from an England fan point of view — on the presumption that Thomas Tuchel will consider him as a starter when fully fit.
