Manchester City target ‘priority’ talks with £250,000-a-week out-of-contract defender | OneFootball

A new report has claimed that a potential contract renewal for John Stones at Manchester City is being deemed as a ‘priority’ for the club.

Stones has entered the final year of his current deal at the Etihad Stadium – an increasingly shifting stance held by club officials to allow senior stars to enter the last 12 months of their contracts at City despite the underlying risks.

Kevin De Bruyne was allowed to enter the last year of his contract last summer as the Belgium international aimed to return to peak fitness after struggling with recurring hamstring issues in Manchester City’s 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns.

In early March, Manchester City bosses told De Bruyne he was not part of their plans past the summer, with the 34-year-old quickly announcing his fate on his social media channels and progressing his search for a new club.

Stones has faced injury troubles for the entirety of his Manchester City career and as the England international navigates his 10th season at the Etihad Stadium, there remain doubts over what the summer of 2026 could mean for the Barnsley-born centre-half.

According to a new report from SportsBoom, Manchester City are ready to offer John Stones a new contract to stay at the club for a further two more years, potentially three, before his existing agreement runs out at the end of the ongoing season.

From the perspective of the central defender himself, it is claimed that the England international is determined to stay and win more trophies with Manchester City, especially trying to take back the Premier League title from Liverpool.

Stones is believed to be earning a £250,000-a-week salary, excluding bonuses, and the report states that City know they would ‘easily have to pay that sort of money’ for a player of Stones’ calibre – as such making a new deal a priority.

Stones was the world’s second most expensive defender when City signed him in a £47.5 million deal plus £2.5 million in add-ons in August 2016. Since then he has played 281 times for the club, with 175 of those appearances coming in the Premier League.

A six-time Premier League winner, Stones has celebrated memorable success with City under manager Pep Guardiola. He has also won two FA Cups and EFL Cups, as well as the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup during a decorated and distinguished career at City which will reach its ten-year mark next summer.

Capped 83 times by his country, it is little surprise Stones would have a host of suitors if he were to leave the club.

Earlier this month Stones pulled out of England’s recent World Cup qualifying matches against Andorra and Serbia through injury, but he made his return for City as a late substitute in a 1-1 away draw with title-rivals Arsenal on Sunday.