Football
Exclusive: Manchester City Keen to Offer Star Defender John Stones New Deal Ahead of Contract Expiry
Manchester City are looking to offer defender John Stones a new deal before his contract expires next year. The club is working on keeping the experienced player for at least two more years as he approaches his decade-long career at City. Stones is determined to stay and continue winning trophies with the team, despite potential suitors. City knows they need to act quickly to secure Stones' future and avoid losing him for free.
Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League by James Gill - Danehouse | Getty Images
Exclusive: Manchester City Keen to Offer Star Defender John Stones New Deal Ahead of Contract Expiry
Manchester City are ready to offer star defender John Stones a new deal to stay at the club before his contract runs out next summer, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The experienced England international is out of contract in June next year after what wil be a decade with the club.
Stones was the world’s second most expensive defender when City signed him in £47.5million deal plus £2.5m in add-ons in August 2016.
Since then has played 281 times for the club, with 175 of those appearances having coming in the Premier League.
But the 31-year-old centre-back is out-of-contract in nine months’ time and our sources have learnt the Blues are working behind the scenes on a deal to keep Stones at the Etihad Stadium for at least two more years, potentially three.
A six-time Premier League winner, Stones has celebrated memorable success with City under manager Pep Guardiola.
He has also won two FA Cups and EFL Cups, as well as the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup crowns during a decorated and distinguished career at city which will reach its ten-year mark next summer.
Capped 83 times by is country, it’s little surprise Stones would have a hatful of suitors if he were to leave the club.
DETERMINED TO STAY
But it is understood the former Barnsley and Everton man is determined to stay and win more trophies with the Blues, especially trying to take the Premier League title back from current champions Liverpool.
Stones is understood to earn a £250,000-a-week salary, excluding bonuses.
However, City know then would easily have to shell out that sort of money for a player of Stones’ calibre, so agreeing a new deal is their main focus ahead of the defender’s contract running down.
If that happens the Blues wouldn’t get a penny for one of their top players.
Earlier this month Stones pulled out of England’s recent World Cup qualifying matches against Andorra and Serbia through injury, but he made his return for City as a late substitute in a 1-1 away draw with title-rivals Arsenal on Sunday.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.