Chelsea interested in former Manchester City defender John Stones
Chelsea are reportedly showing interest in signing England defender John Stones, who recently became a free agent after his contract with Manchester City expired. The west London club is considering a move for the 32-year-old, who was part of the Three Lions squad that secured a third-place finish at the World Cup.
This potential acquisition comes as Chelsea aims to strengthen their defensive options. Inter Milan is also said to be considering a move for Stones. The defender’s availability on a free transfer has made him a target for several clubs across England and Europe.
Stones‘ stock has reportedly risen following his strong performances for England at the recent World Cup, despite playing sparingly in his final season at the Etihad Stadium. His experience, built over a decade with Manchester City, includes numerous trophies, making him an attractive prospect for clubs seeking to bolster their squads with seasoned players.
Defensive Reinforcements and Departures
Chelsea‘s interest in Stones aligns with their goal of bringing in one or two new centre-backs this summer. The club is also in discussions to sign Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace and is assessing other potential targets, including Jacobo Ramon from Como. However, reports suggest that the valuation for Lacroix, a 26-year-old Frenchman, might be higher than what Chelsea is prepared to pay.
To accommodate new arrivals, Chelsea is looking to sell some of their current central defenders. Trevoh Chalobah is reportedly in talks to join Como, while Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile are among the players who could be available for transfer. These potential departures would create space within the squad for incoming players.
Stones made 295 appearances for Manchester City after joining the club from Everton in 2016. During his time with City, he contributed to the team winning six Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups, five League Cups, three Community Shields, the Club World Cup, and the Uefa Super Cup. He also boasts 93 international caps for England.
His final season at Manchester City saw him limited to 15 appearances, reportedly due to a combination of persistent injuries and managerial preferences for other defenders such as Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Marc Guehi. Guehi, who arrived from Palace for £35 million in January, further impacted Stones‘ playing time.
Competition for Signings
Chelsea‘s pursuit of Stones could lead to a renewed competition with Arsenal, who are also reportedly interested in the defender. Arsenal‘s interest is said to be driven by concerns over William Saliba, who is facing a significant period out due to a back injury sustained at the World Cup.
This potential contest for Stones follows a recent transfer battle between the two London clubs for Morgan Rogers. Chelsea recently announced the £117 million signing of Rogers from Aston Villa, a player both clubs had been tracking. Arsenal had reportedly valued Rogers at around £80 million and were prepared to increase their bid to £100 million.
However, Aston Villa reportedly raised their asking price after Elliot Anderson‘s £116 million move to Manchester City, and Chelsea met the increased valuation to secure the deal. Rogers, who scored 14 goals and provided 12 assists in 55 games across all competitions last season, was a highly sought-after player.
In addition to their interest in Stones, Chelsea is also reportedly in talks with Aston Villa regarding a loan move for Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho.
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Source: bbc.com
