Chronicle Editor
Pep Guardiola is reportedly lining up moves to sign at least two new centrebacks this summer, casting fresh doubt over John Stones’ future at Manchester City.
Guardiola’s side are expected to relinquish the Premier League title at the end of the season with champions-elect Liverpool extending their lead to 22 points following City’s 2-0 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday.
The City boss does not want to overhaul his squad in the summer despite their underwhelming season, but there is growing concerned by the number of goals his team have been conceding.
They have already had six more goals scored against them than the whole of the last campaign in the Premier League and Guardiola is keen to shore up his defensive options.
City failed to sign a replacement for Vincent Kompany in the summer and then had to suffice without Ayermic Laporte for the best part of five months this season due to injury.
According to The Times, City have identified Villarreal’s Pau Torres, Benfica’s Ruben Dias, Brighton’s Lewis Dunk and Inter’s Milan Skriniar as defensive targets for the summer.
Torres made his Spain debut back in November after forcing his way into the Villarreal team, while Dias and Skriniar have been on City’s radar for some time.
Dunk, meanwhile, is also being considered having impressed Guardiola with his consistency over the past two seasons.
Guardiola, who as Sportsmail revealed was told by his players to temper his tinkering during their 45-minute lock-in at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, wants to sign two of those players to replace two of his current crop.
Laporte is seen as City’s first choice so will definitely stay, while Fernandinho recently signed a one-year contract extension and Eric Garcia (19) is highly rated by the City boss, leaving John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi most vulnerable for the axe.
England international Stones has come under heavy scrutiny for his below-par performances this season and has rarely been trusted by Guardiola, who has often preferred to play Fernandinho out of position in defence than choose him.
Stones had been one of Guardiola’s first signings when he joined City from Everton for £47.5 million in 2016, but he has fallen out of favour, making just 17 appearances in all competitions this term.
The 25-year-old failed to make City’s squad for their match at Tottenham on the weekend, with Guardiola opting to take youngster Garcia instead.
Guardiola is said to have reservations about Stones’ application and ability to focus on the pitch, and City are yet to offer him fresh terms on his deal which expires in 2022, despite the club’s reputation for tying down their first-team players.
Stones’ lack of action this season will concern England boss Gareth Southgate as he was a regular starter at the last World Cup, and he could now be in danger of losing his place in the squad at this summer’s European Championship.
Otamendi, meanwhile, will be allowed to leave this summer, but is reportedly unwilling to take a pay cut on his £120 000-a-week wages. – Daily mail
Online Reporter