Chelsea have set their sights on another England star after agreeing a deal for Morgan Rogers, with free agent John Stones firmly on their radar. Stones has left Manchester City after 10 years of great success at the Etihad, where he won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and the Champions League.
Stones' career and availability
Persistent injury problems limited his playing time, but he made 295 appearances for City across all competitions. The defender played just nine times in the Premier League last season, yet his quality kept him in Thomas Tuchel's plans for England's World Cup campaign. The 32-year-old started three matches at the World Cup, including the quarter-final win over Norway and the semi-final loss to Argentina. He also came off the bench in the last-16 victory over Mexico at the Azteca.
Now available on a free transfer, big clubs are interested in snapping up the former Barnsley man. According to The Athletic, Stones has been added to Chelsea's list of centre-back targets this summer as the revamp under Xabi Alonso continues.
Chelsea's summer spending
Marco Palestra has been the most significant arrival so far, joining in a £43m deal from Atalanta. However, Morgan Rogers' agreed move from Aston Villa will overshadow that. The Blues have agreed a £117m deal to sign the England midfielder, beating Arsenal and other clubs to the 23-year-old's signature.
Chelsea may sign more than one centre-back this summer as they also pursue Crystal Palace and France defender Maxence Lacroix. Talks are ongoing, with Palace wanting a reported £55m-£60m for the 26-year-old, but Chelsea do not want to meet that asking price. There is a clear change in transfer policy at Stamford Bridge this summer, with more focus on experience than in recent seasons. The Blues have also moved to sign Sunderland veteran Granit Xhaka, but the Black Cats rejected a bid for the 34-year-old.
Arsenal and other suitors
As for Stones' future, The Sun reports that Arsenal are also considering a move. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta worked with Stones during his time as a coach at Manchester City and would be bringing him in as cover for William Saliba, who is recovering from a long-term back injury after the World Cup. Stones has high-profile options in front of him, with Bayern Munich and Inter Milan also credited with interest. Former club Everton are keen on snapping up the free agent and are currently the bookmakers' favourites to be his next club.
