Arsenal are reportedly interested in and considering a summer move for John Stones, who has fallen down the pecking order at Manchester City.
According to a 90min exclusive, John Stones could be off to London in the summer; North London to be more precise. Arsenal are looking to beef up their central defence when the transfer window reopens and Mikel Arteta is contemplating a move for the Manchester City defender.
John Stones hasn’t had the best of times recently. The two-time Premier League winner has, in total, 8 trophies, all stemming from his time at Manchester City, whom he joined from Everton in only 2016. But, the 2019-20 season hasn’t been kind towards the Englishman.
Stones has appeared merely 12 times in the Premier League for the defending Premier League champions and hasn’t been as impressive in those matches as is warranted of a starter at Etihad. Thus, his status at the club has come under question, which might open the door to a potential move in the summer, especially with Arsenal interested.
Mikel Arteta has seen almost all of his central defensive options commit dearly mistakes throughout the season, both under him and otherwise. William Saliba will be added to the first-team squad next season after his loan spell ends. But, Arteta would be on the lookout for a Premier League proven defender who can be a calm head at the back, something David Luiz has failed to do so far this season.
While a move to Arsenal would be a bit of a downgrade if you look at the recent past, Manchester City are currently challenging UEFA’s decision to ban the club from European competitions for 2 years. This would put City at par with Arsenal, with the Londoners also currently en route to missing out on European football altogether.
What is imperative though, is the prospect of being a regular at Arsenal, something he is unlikely to achieve at Manchester City again, with Pep Guardiola continuing to look for further additions in central defence. The report states that City are ready to let Stones leave, which makes him a realistic target for Arsenal.
While there is no mention of any fee in the report, Manchester City are guaranteed to take a hit compared to the £50 million they paid to sign Stones from Everton. With Arsenal potentially facing a season away from European football, an available John Stones could be the perfect addition to their squad.
