Adrian Durham suggests Leeds move for £100k-a-wk Man City ace who was benched yesterday
TalkSPORT host Adrian Durham has suggested that defender John Stones could leave Manchester City to join Leeds United.
Stones, 26, was tipped to be one of the best centre-backs in English football when he broke through at Everton but since his £47.5million move to Man City in 2016, he has struggled to meet expectations and has barely been played this season.
Pep Guardiola has handed Stones just 12 Premier League starts and he was on the bench once again last night (Tuesday) as City beat Watford 4-0.
Durham now believes that a move away from the Etihad is a possible solution for Stones and has mooted a switch to Leeds.
Writing on his personal Twitter account on Wednesday, Durham said: “John Stones. Where next? 12 starts in the PL, none in Champions League. What about Leeds?”
Marcelo Bielsa and Guardiola do have a great friendship and Leeds have also had an agreement to have Jack Harrison on loan from Man City for the last two seasons.
There is definitely a link between Leeds and the Citizens but can we see Stones heading to Elland Road? Absolutely not.
According to statistics website Spotrac, Stones earns £100,000-a-week on his deal at the Etihad and a newly-promoted club, who is coming up in a time of such financial uncertainty due to the coronavirus crisis, is unlikely to be able to match those kinds of figures.
He is also someone who is used to playing in the Champions League, in the England squad and in a title-chasing Premier League club.
As big as Leeds are and as good as a manager Bielsa is, we find it to be too much of a tough sale for both the Whites and for Man City, as they might want to bin off a player who is clearly struggling for Guardiola.
Stones would be a top replacement for Ben White when his loan ends, but we just cannot see it happening.
In other Leeds United news, fans are drooling over this attacker transfer report.