Manchester City defender John Stones is set to get a contract extension at the club, according to Mike McGrath of The Telegraph. The England international’s career at City looked to be coming to an end, but a revival in recent months seems to have reignited Pep Guardiola‘s faith in the 26-year-old.
John Stones Set for Manchester City Contract Extension
Fighting Up the Pecking Order
After a mixture of fitness issues and injury throughout lockdown, Stones started the 2020/21 campaign behind four other centre-backs in the City squad. Summer signings Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake joined Aymeric Laporte and youngster Eric Garcia as the main four that Guardiola rotated in different competitions.
Garcia’s future, though, is uncertain. The Spaniard looked as though he was going to seal a move back to Barcelona in the summer, but that deal fell through at a crucial stage. However, it is thought that Barcelona will go back in for the 19-year-old, and he can begin to discuss a pre-contract with the club once the transfer window opens in the next fortnight.
Stones has one full season left on his current deal, and while there are currently no details on the fresh terms, it is still quite a turnaround from how bleak things looked for him at the start of the season.
The England defender has worked hard to get himself back into Guardiola’s plans, battling personal issues and fitness to get his form back on track.
Speaking to The Telegraph’s James Ducker last week, Guardiola said of Stones: “His attitude was always the same but we see him happier and stronger now because he’s fit, he’s not injured every two or three weeks, and that helps a lot. He’s played really well and that gives you confidence. His personal life, now it’s settled, is much better.”
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