John Stones is ready to sign a new contract at Manchester City as Pep Guardiola's side attempt to extend the England international's stay. Stones' current deal expires in the summer but both parties are reported to be open to prolonging his time at the Etihad Stadium, as he continues to play a key role under Guardiola.
Getty Images SportStones ready to stay
Per the Daily Mirror, City want to keep Stones at the club and are ready to open talks over a new contract. The England star's current deal expires at the end of the season but he remains a key member of Guardiola's squad, and he is now minded to remain at the Etihad. City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak is said to be loathe to lose the defender on a free transfer in the summer, and the centre-back is hoping to receive a deal that will keep him at the club until 2028. He is 31, and is prepared to spend the rest of his career in Manchester.
AdvertisementA key cornerstone
Stones has developed into one of the best centre-backs in the country since joining City from Everton in 2016. He has won a staggering 15 trophies for the club, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League. He has also won 83 caps for England, representing his country at two World Cups and three European Championships.
This season, he has made three starts in the Premier League, with City currently sitting in ninth in the table, after winning two, losing two and drawing one of their opening five games. A morale-boosting three points against Burnley are up for grabs this weekend, and City will be desperate to take them.
Getty Images SportPep defends Stones' fitness record
Last season, Stones made just 11 appearances in the Premier League, as he had to battle a recurring foot injury and a hamstring issue. Ahead of this campaign, however, Guardiola revealed he would be relying on the centre-back to remain fit, because he is so important.
He said: "In the year of the treble (2023) and quadruple (2019), John Stones was massively important. He is a top class player, but last season he played less than 30% of the games. He was injured a lot of time. What we want is for him to be fit.
"In the [Club] World Cup, he didn't play much, played the first 45 minutes (vs Palermo), and step by step – we need him. We have good central defenders, we need him!"
Stones opens up on injury troubles
Stones said in the summer that he had no intention of leaving City: "I'm here, I want to stay here, I love it. I'm here to help the team. I don't know what's been said or speculated, but I hope that kind of shuts it down."
He added: "There's been points where you think, yo'’ve been giving all this effort, you dedicate all your life, especially how I approach or go about my life, and football, I give everything, on and off the pitch to be here or be ready to play games and those are the dark days," he said.
"I think everyone’s been through them and think, 'Why is this happening?' You wish it would go a different path, but like I said, it's self-doubt, there's a lot of things
"All of us have been through different upbringings and challenges through life and what did we do within those situations, was it fight or was it give up? I was a fighter from a young age, in difficult moments, you have to look at the bigger picture and realise what are your morals, what you believe in, and fight to make it worthwhile."
