According to reports in the Daily Mail, new Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is looking to bulk up his defence by bringing in John Stones from Manchester City. There have been a vast number of rumours over the past few days that Stones’ time at City could be coming to an end, with Pep Guardiola ready to move on from one of his first City signings after a disappointing start to the season and general underdevelopment.
Arteta knows Stones very well having spent the past two years working as Pep Guardiola’s assistant coach at Manchester City, working with the player day in and day out. Another boost for the Spaniard is the fact that he currently shares the same agent as Stones, an agent which Stones has been to visit within the last week and is expected to see again later this week – in London.
A rock for Arsenals’ backline?
Stones will be looking to find his form once again after a poor start to the season as he aims to re-establish his place in the England squad ahead of this year’s European Championships. For Arsenal it would bring in a player that is well versed in the system Arteta is trying to implement, as well as giving the Gunners a chance to fix the leaky defence that has plagued them for the past number of seasons.
The proposed deal would be a loan move, though any further details are currently scarce. It would be a surprise if the loan move didn’t include a potential future fee that would allow Arsenal to make their move for Stones permanent at the end of his time at the club. While this may seem a strange choice for City, a team who have struggled for depth in their back line in recent months, it may be a move that allows Pep to head out into the market and bring in a centre back to partner Aymeric Laporte as he prepares to make his return.
It is a move that could work out brilliantly for both teams or disastrously for both teams. Only time shall tell.
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