Manchester City have offered centre-back John Stones to Chelsea for £20m, according to reports in the England media. It is believed that a move could indeed happen, although there is thought to be some negotiations needed over personal terms.
The 26-year-old is certainly quite a way down the pecking order at the Etihad but taking a £30m hit on a defender they paid £50m for only four years ago would be a surprise. Supporters on Twitter have been debating the merits of the deal:
Hope this is true, a great move for him and beneficial for us
— (Tier 1 Journalist) (@Spencer200003) August 23, 2020
Doubt
— Shaun (@OpenLaporte) August 23, 2020
Bought for 50m sold for 20m. City scouts need to be fired ?
— $ (@datniggxthato) August 23, 2020
Keep him
— Ferran™️(#FreeAouar) (@PrimeFerran_) August 23, 2020
Nooooo he should stay
— Pouya Baharifar (@PouyaBaharifar) August 23, 2020
Stones please stay. Pep should give players more chances
— Marion Esther (@MarionEsther6) August 24, 2020
He’s only 26, not old for CD. There’s still time
— alexander sims (@sandssims) August 24, 2020
How’s Ake 41m and Stones 20m, I don’t get it ?
— dmco_45 (@David_Orsolic) August 23, 2020
Why only £20m? Should get £50m for him
— Kal Ahmed (@KalAhmed4) August 24, 2020
Even though City are likely to be open to selling Stones, it would be a shock if the England international was sold for such a low figure. There is said to be a lot of interest in the player, with Arsenal and West Ham having been mentioned as potential destinations previously.
Of course, the global health crisis will impact finances to some extent but, even so, it’s unlikely that the Citizens would be prepared to take such a sizeable hit in offloading the centre-half.
