Manchester City’s rejuvenated defender John Stones is set to sign a new contract with the club – however talks with Raheem Sterling have not progressed as the club would have liked.
According to a report by The Mirror, England defender Stones is set to sign a new £175,000 a week contract after forming a formidable partnership at the back with City new boy Ruben Dias. The pair tightened up the City back line as they raced to their third Premier League title in four seasons.
Stones also played a starring, yet unsung role in England’s journey to the Euro 2021 final, as the Three Lions conceded just two goals throughout the entire tournament. Stones had endured a torrid time at City, with manager Pep Guardiola reluctant to play him alongside Nicolas Otamendi in the heart of City’s defence following the departure of Vincent Kompany.
The purchase of Aymeric Laporte sheered up the backline and it was expected that the now Spanish international would form a partnership with Dias, who signed for the blues in October 2020. However, it was Stones that emerged as the ideal partner for the Portuguese defender, and the former Everton man forced his way into the reckoning at the Etihad.
His impressive form also saw him force his way into Gareth Southgate’s England plans, and Stones became an integral part of the team that made the final, starting every game as the Three Lions came within a couple of penalty kicks of being crowned European champions.
But with the defender’s contract coming to an end next summer, City have now moved to secure his services as they look to keep the core of one of the most successful City teas in their history together.
The same cannot be said about Sterling, who is yet to agree a new contract with the blues. The England winger was phenomenal during the Euro’s, with a series of impressive displays and bagging three goals and an assist. However, his end of season form for City was less than perfect and Sterling, with rumours of a rift between him and manager Pep Guardiola towards the end of the season, went into the Euros on the back of suggestions that he shouldn’t be playing for the national side.
The blues are eager to tie the former Liverpool and QPR winger down to an extended contract, but despite the talks stalling, Sterling still has 2 years left to run on his current contract so there is no expected urgency about the winger signing just yet.
But with the seemingly imminent arrival of Jack Grealish, Sterling may well find himself in a more central role with Grealish on the left, which worked well against the Czech Republic when the Villa man provided an inch-perfect cross for Sterling to nod home his second goal of the campaign.
If the two do as rumoured, link up at City in such a way, it won’t be long before Sterling is once again putting pen to paper on a new contract.