Manchester City reportedly won’t sell John Stones this month amid Arsenal links

Add as preferred source on Google

Manchester City are unwilling to do business over defender John Stones during the January transfer window, according to Manchester Evening News.

Metro reported recently that Mikel Arteta, fresh from trading the Etihad Stadium for the Arsenal hotseat, was plotting a raid on his former employers for the England international.

But the MEN report that City have ruled out any chance that the man who joined for £47.5 million (BBC) from Everton in 2016 would go anywhere.

Stones and Arteta have the same agent, and the pair apparently have a good working relationship, but the Spaniard will have to look elsewhere if he wants a new defender this month.

TBR’s View – Mid-season move would have been a risk for Stones with Euro 2020 looming

Most players who have hoped of being at Euro 2020 this summer will already have one eye on the tournament.

Whether that’s to do with playing through pain, moving to get gametime or trying to keep their spot in the side, it will be in the back of their minds.

Stones has struggled with injury but likely has enough credit in the bank with Gareth Southgate to be in the England party this summer, fitness permitting.

But moving mid-season would have been a risk on that front.

If his form had declined or he’d struggled to settle in a side which has been notoriously flimsy in recent seasons, it could have put his hopes of being in the Three Lions squad this summer in doubt.

It would also have been a shock if City were willing to do business, given they have been short on fit centre halves all season and are still looking to mount an assault on three trophies before the close of the season.