Manchester City are reportedly set to make a big-money summer move for Everton defender John Stones.
The Citizens are set to invest heavily during the window in an attempt to overhaul their aging squad, with new boss Pep Guardiola believed to be prioritising talented young centre-backs as part of his close season spending.
And according to the Independent, the current Bayern Munich coach has identified Stones and Athletic Bilbao’s Aymeric Laporte as his top targets.
Stones has enjoyed a mixed season to date, temporarily losing his place to Argentine defender Ramiro Funes Mori following an alarming post-Christmas slump in form.
However, the elegant young defender is an essential part of Roberto Martinez’s possession-based system, and, after the Blues turned down bids as high as £40 million from Premier League Chelsea last summer, would reportedly command a fee in the region of £50 million.