Manchester City look set to sign Everton defender John Stones after the England worldwide was included in their squad for a Champions League play-off against Steaua Bucharest on UEFA’s official website.
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Joined Manchester City on a six-year deal that makes him the world’s second most expensive defender behind Brazilian David Luiz.
City spent an estimated 60 million pounds on centre backs Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi over the past two seasons, but still heavily relies on injury-prone captain Vincent Kompany.
Made 77 league appearances for Everton and developed a reputation as a ball-playing centre back.
Was part of England’s squad at the Under-21 European championship in June 2015 but they failed to progress past the group stages.
“We want to help John show his quality with us and improve on what he has already achieved”, Guardiola said.
Embarrassingly for City, the team wasn’t first to announce Stones had signed.
However, after the deadline for squad submission the Champions League playoff rounds passing at midnight on Monday night, Stones’ name was included in City’s list. The first leg is in Romania next Tuesday, before the return match on August 24 in Manchester. Guardiola may have decided he can not rely on the Belgium worldwide to be fit, choosing to bring in Stones to improve his options.
Per the Daily Mail’s Sami Mokbel, Guardiola is “desperate” to find a buyer for Mangala, as he will have little role to play in the City squad with Stones now at the club.
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Their first Premier League fixture is at home to Sunderland on Saturday.
