John Stones' wages at Man City as Wrexham plot shock transfer move | OneFootball

The Red Dragons have been linked with a potential move for the England international

Wrexham's rapid rise from the National League to the brink of the Premier League has been one of the most publicised footballing stories for many years.

Just five years ago, the Red Dragons were languishing in mid-table within the fifth tier, having been completely exiled from the EFL since their relegation from League Two back in 2008.

However, they have since been transformed into somewhat of a global brand under the ownership of Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, rising swiftly up the English football pyramid thanks to the record-breaking achievement of three successive promotions.

The Welsh club are currently enjoying a fine first season back at Championship level since 1982 under the management of the vastly-experienced Phil Parkinson.

Since being appointed at the Stok Cae Ras in July 2021 - months after Reynolds and Rob Mac's initial takeover - the 58-year-old has been heavily backed in the transfer market to achieve the club's short and long-term goals.

As a result, there has been plenty of turnover within the playing squad at his disposal, as seen in the lead-up to the current campaign when they smashed their transfer spend for an overall window and on one player when Nathan Broadhead joined from Ipswich Town.

Now, with a first-ever season in the Premier League potentially coming into view, Wrexham have been linked with a handful of star names, with links to Liverpool full-back, Andy Robertson, now being followed by transfer talk involving yet another Premier League winner.

Wrexham AFC to rival Everton in ambitious move for Manchester City's John Stones

That's because, according to TEAMtalk, the Red Dragons are set to potentially rival Everton for the services of Manchester City and England centre-back, John Stones.

Stones, 31, has been with the Citizens for a decade after his £47.5m move from the Toffees, winning six Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2022/23 among many other accolades.

However, recent times have seen the Barnsley academy graduate become hampered by injuries, meaning his long-term future at the Etihad Stadium has been jeopardised as his current contract expires on June 30th.

The aforementioned report states that Stones is keen on a return to Merseyside under David Moyes, whilst clubs from the Saudi Pro League and MLS are also interested in a transfer move of their own.

It has also been claimed that Wrexham chiefs have discussed the potential of a move for the 87-cap Three Lions ace, but it could prove tricky for the Welsh side to convince the defender to join their well-documented project.

John Stones' wage demands could provide stumbling block in ambitious Wrexham transfer swoop

One of the major reasons behind a potential stumbling block are likely to be the wage demands of Stones, who has been a top-level centre-back for some time despite his injury issues.

According to Capology - a site which ESTIMATES wage earnings - Stones is said to be taking home a weekly salary of £250,000 per week at the Etihad, making him the joint-fourth-highest earner in Pep Guardiola's squad alongside Gianluigi Donnarumma and his centre-back colleagues, Ruben Dias and Marc Guehi.

If he was to move back to Everton, he would be the club's highest earner by £100,000 ahead of his England teammate, Jordan Pickford. Unsurprisingly, even if he was to take a wage reduction, the likelihood of Stones being the highest earner in Wrexham's history should a shock transfer occur would be extremely likely.

Despite their global reach, the Reds are said to have the 12th-highest wage bill in the Championship, with Kieffer Moore currently topping the earnings charts with an ESTIMATED £30,000 per week wage.