According to recent reports by The Sun, Manchester City continue to battle for the signing of English International, John Stones.
Although the England defender is contracted with the Blues until June of 2019, an early transfer may be made if Manchester City and Everton are both comfortable on a price for the 22-year-old.
Everton manager, Ronald Koeman, has valued Stones at an extravagant £50m when Manchester City became interested in bringing the defender to the Etihad Stadium.
However, Coach Pep Guardiola refuses to pay such a whopping figure that would give Stones the title of the most expensive defender in transfer history.
Reports also show that both clubs are considering a trade of Wilfried Bony to Everton if it is to lower the price that the Blues are demanding for Stones. Yet, there is a significant difference in the players.
According to Koeman, Stones is valued to be a hefty £50m defensive individual. On the contrary, Bony, currently a striker for City, is valued to be £35m less, putting a price tag of £15m on the goal seeker.
If Manchester City are unsuccessful in bringing the defender to the Etihad Stadium, they are also reported to have their eyes set on Juventus’ Leonardo Bonucci.
After making a total of 85 appearances for Everton since his signing back in 2013, Stones has only netted one goal for his team in the 2014/2015 season for a 3-0 win over England’s Manchester United.
For Stones defense, he is playing with the mentality to prevent goals against his squad, not to put his name on the score board, and he has surely done that with his time at Everton.
With the defensive and play making skills Stones possesses, the English International would surely be a great signing for Manchester City. Playing alongside highly skilled defenders such as Otamendi, Sagna, Mangala, Zabaleta, Clichy, and Kompany will give any striking side an uneasy day on the pitch.
