England defender John Stones is reportedly in advanced discussions with Inter Milan regarding a move to the Italian club on a free transfer. The centre-half became a free agent at the end of June after his departure from Manchester City.
Reports suggest that Serie A champions Inter Milan have engaged in positive talks with the 32-year-old and are understood to be leading the pursuit for the Premier League and Champions League winner. The proposed deal is for a two-year contract.
Interest from across Europe
Stones has attracted significant interest from various clubs across Europe. Both Chelsea and Juventus were among the teams reportedly showing interest in the defender.
In the Premier League, Arsenal and Chelsea had also registered their interest in acquiring the England international. However, Inter Milan, aware of the competition, worked to secure a deal for Stones.
According to reports, Stones has verbally agreed to join Inter Milan on a free transfer. His representatives are now expected to finalise the terms of the two-year contract with the Italian club.
Juventus had made contact with Stones’ camp over the past weekend. Despite the interest from multiple clubs, Inter Milan appears to be the frontrunner.
Career at Manchester City and injury concerns
During his time at Manchester City, John Stones made 295 appearances after joining from Everton in 2016. He was a key part of a highly successful period for the club.
With Manchester City, Stones contributed to winning six Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups, five League Cups, three Community Shields, the Club World Cup, and the Uefa Super Cup.
The former Barnsley defender has also earned 93 international caps for England and was part of the squad that secured a third-place finish at the World Cup.
However, concerns have been raised regarding Stones’ fitness history. He was limited to only 439 Premier League minutes in his last season due to thigh, calf, and muscular injuries. In the campaign before that, he played only 547 minutes, which was also affected by injuries.
Throughout his 10 seasons at Manchester City, Stones did not play more than 59 per cent of the available Premier League minutes in any single season.
Potential impact and other transfer targets
The move for Stones comes as Inter Milan also reportedly maintains interest in Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero, who is considered a top defensive target for head coach Christian Chivu. However, the cost associated with a potential deal for Romero is expected to be substantial.
There is a possibility for Inter Milan to sign both Romero and Stones if Benjamin Pavard departs the club. As it stands, Inter Milan is actively pursuing Stones.
For Arsenal, the potential acquisition of a new centre-back was considered after an injury concern to William Saliba during this summer’s tournament. Saliba was forced off in France’s semi-final against Spain with a back problem.
Chelsea also had Stones on their centre-back shortlist as they aimed to strengthen their defensive depth. Reports indicate that Maxence Lacroix is set to move to Chelsea from Crystal Palace in a £52 million switch, and Marco Palestra has been added as a versatile full-back option. Chelsea is also reportedly interested in Pep Chevarria, the Rayo Vallecano left-back, to replace Marc Cucurella.
Despite these other movements and interests, widespread reports suggest that John Stones’ deal with Inter Milan is on track to be completed by the end of this week, with some reports indicating an agreement is already in place for his switch to the San Siro on a two-year deal.
Source: bbc.com
As NewsGB.org's Sports News Writer, Theo Marsden reports on rugby union, golf and boxing for readers across the country. He began on a regional sports desk in Yorkshire. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Hull and completed an NCTJ diploma. Theo lives in Hull, where he follows the European Tour and amateur rugby. “Sport moves fast; readers deserve it right the first time.”