John Stones Next Club Betting Odds – Is the City defender off to Arsenal in January?

The transfer window is open and, naturally, the rumours are flying around like no tomorrow.

One particular rumour that’s caught our eye over the last few days involves Arsenal’s interest in Manchester City defender John Stones, as has been reported by a number of sources at this point.

Manchester City are set to reject any advances from Arsenal for John Stones this month, according to the Daily Mail.

Thoughts 🤨 pic.twitter.com/Dve1PfsDu2

— GOAL (@goal) January 15, 2020

Today, we’re going to analyse the benefits and drawbacks of the deal for all parties involved.

 

John Stones Next Club Betting Odds

(After January transfer window)

• Arsenal – 5/1
• Everton 14/1
• Juventus – 14/1
• Bayern Munich – 16/1
• Barcelona – 16/1
• Chelsea – 20/1
• Real Madrid – 20/1
• Liverpool – 22/1
• Man United – 25/1

 

How will John Stones benefit Arsenal?

Arsenal need a centre-back because their backline is shocking, really. It feels like this is always the case.

David Luiz is error-prone as ever and Sokratis is far from world-class. With Callum Chambers injured (again), too, it leaves Rob Holding as their only real back up (Mustafi doesn’t count).

Stones would be a viable option because he is, ultimately, a good player. He’s a solid defender who still has plenty of potential, and he could solve Arsenal’s problems.

john stones come on mate 🔵 ➡️ 🔴

— ☆ (@billyaaron16) January 14, 2020

We think, however, the Gunners should be looking somewhere else.

Stones is still extremely error-prone. He’s a good defender, but that’s what they bought in David Luiz – a good defender that’s error-prone. Having the two of them together could spell disaster.

He’d also cost a pretty penny. He still has two-and-a-half years left on his contract with rumours City will offer a new one, and he’s only 25 years old. Not to mention he’d be joining from, supposedly, a direct rival.

 

Should Manchester City let John Stones leave?

At this point in time it would be ludicrous for City to let Stones go.

The first reason is obvious; they have hardly any defenders. Since Aymeric Laporte’s injury back in August, midfielder Fernandinho has been a pretty much ever-present at centre-half. Apart from the younger players, City have just Stones and Otamendi fit back there, so it would be footballing suicide to let Stones leave at this point without bringing in at least one replacement.

It also feels like City would be giving up on a project if they were to let Stones leave. He joined for a huge fee back in 2016 and was clearly someone they invested in wisely.

I like this John Stones kid from the Everton team…Arsenal should go for him. He is one for the future..#Soccer#Arsenal

— Konfident Celiz (@realmarcelceliz) April 26, 2015

Sure, he hasn’t developed as much as they may have liked, but he’s perfect for Pep and, if the Spaniard continues working with him, he could still yet become a world class defender and will be a part of the England Euro 2020 squad if he is fit.

 

Should John Stones consider a move to Arsenal?

Stones’ career has been up and down since he joined City from Everton. As mentioned earlier, he was bought in in 2016 as a 22-year-old with plenty of potential. Now, though, at 25, he still hasn’t fulfilled it.

Back in 2016 we wrote an article asking whether Stones could fulfill his price tag.

There’s still time, of course, but he may want a fresh challenge. Everton are the second favourites in the John Stones next club betting odds but it’s hard to see him going back to Goodison Park.

If Arteta wants John Stones then I want him also

— Onikoyi (@i_amdipo) January 14, 2020

There are rumours he wants to reunite with former City assistant and now Arsenal boss Mikael Arteta, but we don’t think Pep would like or want that, even if Arteta is his best mate.

With Harry Maguire a cert and Joe Gomez finding form again, Stones’ England place may be at risk. The best way to fix that would be to play week in, week out, which is what he would be doing Arsenal, rather than being chopped in and out by a manager that doesn’t, necessarily, trust him, as is happening at City right now.

 

Will Stones stay at Manchester City or move?

This move makes sense for a number of reasons, but we can’t see it right now due to the fact City are so short at the back. In the current odds for John Stones’ next club, Arsenal are the favourites but it is hard to see City selling.

Things haven’t worked out as the club or Stones would have hoped at City, and Arsenal, a club in transition, maybe the perfect place for him to rebuild his career.

It’s possible the Gunners and the player will want the move, but City may not – and they hold all the cards, here.

Never say never, however.

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