{"id":575098,"date":"2020-12-20T16:03:12","date_gmt":"2020-12-20T21:03:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=575098"},"modified":"2020-12-20T16:03:12","modified_gmt":"2020-12-20T21:03:12","slug":"john-stones-manchester-city-contract-extension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/12\/20\/john-stones-manchester-city-contract-extension\/","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: John Stones Set for Manchester City Contract Extension"},"content":{"rendered":"

Manchester City <\/a>defender John Stones<\/a> is set to get a contract extension at the club, according to Mike McGrath of The Telegraph<\/a>. The England international’s career at City looked to be coming to an end<\/a>, but a revival in recent months seems to have reignited Pep Guardiola<\/a>‘s faith in the 26-year-old.<\/p>\n

John Stones Set for Manchester City Contract Extension<\/h2>\n

Fighting Up the Pecking Order<\/h3>\n

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<\/a> and Nathan Ake<\/a> joined Aymeric Laporte<\/a> and youngster Eric Garcia<\/a> as the main four that Guardiola rotated in different competitions.<\/p>\n

Garcia’s future, though, is uncertain. The Spaniard looked as though he was going to seal a move<\/a> back to Barcelona<\/a> in the summer, but that deal fell through<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Speaking to The Telegraph’s James Ducker<\/a> last week, Guardiola said of Stones: \u201cHis attitude was always the same but we see him happier and stronger now because he\u2019s fit, he\u2019s not injured every two or three weeks, and that helps a lot. He\u2019s played really well and that gives you confidence. His personal life, now it\u2019s settled, is much better.”<\/p>\n

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Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>