Report: Newcastle’s recruitment team are now hoping PIF can convince £47.5m man to join them from title winners

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According to Give Me Sport, Newcastle United are hoping to strike a deal with Manchester City for John Stones in the summer transfer window.

The Magpies are on a roll now in the Premier League. Eddie Howe’s men are unbeaten in their last nine games and have won six of their last seven. The threat of relegation looks extremely small now and the Newcastle boss deserves a ton of credit.

However, as the saying goes, it ain’t over till the fat lady sings. So, Newcastle have to keep going until they are mathematically safe. Once they get there, the focus will turn to the summer transfer window.

One area where they’ll be desperate for a new signing is in the heart of their defence.

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Newcastle hoping to sign John Stones from Manchester City

Newcastle were linked with a whole host of top defenders in the January transfer window. The likes of Sven Botman, Diego Carlos and Benoit Badiashile were all reportedly on Howe’s wish list, but no move materialised.

In the summer, if they stay up, things will be a lot different.

The report claims that while Burnley centre-half James Tarkowski has been targetted, Newcastle United’s recruitment team are hoping that PIF, their new owners, can splash the cash for Manchester City star Stones.

The Englishman, who joined City for an eye-watering £47.5 million in 2016 (BBC), has won three league titles there, including one last season. He was integral last term but has only started 10 times this campaign, which has raised questions about his future at the Etihad Stadium.

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Newcastle target John Stones’ quality as a defender was forgotten by many until he broke into Pep Guardiola’s side last season and impressed everyone.

The Englishman, now 27, is at the prime of his career and he would be a quality addition to most sides in the Premier League.

Newcastle wouldn’t have dared to target a player like him this time last year. But, with new, wealthy and hugely ambitious owners at the helm, Magpies fans could really dream of pulling this off.

Stones still has over four years left on his contract at City and he definitely won’t be available for cheap. However, if there’s one club that can afford him comfortably now, it’s Newcastle, and it will be interesting to see if they’ll make a move for him this summer.

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