Manchester City ready to land center-back John Stones for $66 mln

PanARMENIAN.Net - Manchester City are prepared to pay up to £50million (over $66 million) to land John Stones and are confident of signing the defender in time for him to return from a post-Euro 2016 break to pre-season training with them, The Telegraph reports.

Everton have placed the £50m valuation on Stones, but that has done nothing to deter City and a firm bid is expected to be placed imminently.

New City manager Pep Guardiola has earmarked Stones as a key part of his revolution and his determination to get the 22-year-old was strengthened by Aymeric Laporte’s decision to stay at Athletic Bilbao.

Barcelona, Manchester United and Chelsea have also been chasing Stones, but City are confident that their willingness to spend so big on the England international has effectively made it a one-horse race for his signature, The Telegraph says.

City also believe Stones has already made his mind up that he wants to move to the Etihad, with sources in the England camp claiming it was an open secret during Euro 2016.

Stones did not play a single minute in the tournament, which was seen as one of the catalogue of errors made by Roy Hodgson because the former Barnsley youngster had been England’s best defender over the warm-up games.

City are likely to start the bidding at under £50m, but have not balked at the idea of eventually going that high to get their man.