Fans of Manchester City have been reacting to a post on Twitter that relays Mike McGrath’s report in The Telegraph on John Stones, which claims that the 25-year-old will soon find out whether he has a future at City with his contract due for extension.
Stones, who arrived at City from Everton in 2016, has made just 20 appearances in all competitions for the club so far this season.
The £54 million-rated centre-back has averaged a 6.68 WhoScored match rating over his 12 appearances in the Premier League, with his last appearance in the league coming as a 65th-minute substitute in Man City’s 2-0 victory over West Ham United in February.
Although the 25-year-old started both City’s victory in the League Cup final last Sunday and their 1-0 fifth-round win over Sheffield Wednesday in the week, Stones has often found himself left out of Pep Guardiola’s starting XI in the league this term, despite the multiple injuries of fellow centre-back Laporte.
As such, McGrath has reported that the England defender is set to find out whether he has a future with the Citizens, with Stones due a renewal on his contract, which currently has two years left to run.
McGrath’s report was relayed on Twitter by Man City Xtra, and in reaction, City fans flocked to the replies, with many stating their belief that Stones should be sold by Pep Guardiola this summer, rather than have his contract extended.
John Stones is set for an indication of where he stands in Pep Guardiola’s central defensive pecking order as he has two years left on his current contract and scheduled for an extension.
[@mcgrathmike] pic.twitter.com/0uKzBHGAP7
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) March 5, 2020
Sell at all costs. Doesn’t have it
— Brezzcobra (@Heyzeed4real) March 5, 2020
He’s a goner
— Aj Leahy (@leahy_aj) March 6, 2020
I pray we move him on
— Walter (@ManCitizen06) March 5, 2020
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Sell
— SB (@67MCFC) March 5, 2020
Nooo
— Cityzen (@Samy_des) March 5, 2020
?
— ellie?? (@Elliemaew13) March 5, 2020
What do we think?
It has been a strange season for Stones, with sporadic appearances and average performances, something which his manager openly commented on, stating (via The Telegraph):
“He has to be fit. After two or three games he fell down and he cannot play. We tried to help him, we tried to do the best to help him since the first day of the three and a half years we are here. We do everything for him.
“He has the conditions to become one of the best, yeah. He has the conditions to do it, but to be the best central defender you have to play one entire season, every three days being there.”
He continued: “He’s still young. As a player he has his future in front of him, it depends on him. It’s in his hands and in his head to become one of the best.”
It would appear, then, that Guardiola believes Stones possesses the attributes to become one of the game’s great defenders, however, it is completely up to the Barnsley-born player as to whether or not he reaches that level.