Arsenal eye shock transfer for England World Cup hero after Morgan Rogers snub
Arsenal look set to miss out on a deal for Morgan Rogers with Chelsea swooping in but they could still sign a key member of England’s World Cup squad in the coming weeks
Arsenal could swoop for free agent John Stones(Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
John Stones has emerged as a surprise target for Arsenal following the World Cup, with the veteran defender available on a free transfer.
Stones brought the curtain down on a decade of domestic dominance with Manchester City at the end of the Premier League season before heading to the World Cup with England, playing a key role in the side’s run to the semi-finals of the tournament.
With Stones now deciding his next move, the 32-year-old’s availability and extensive top-flight pedigree makes him an attractive proposition for elite clubs — and Arsenal look to be in need of defensive reinforcements amid concerns over William Saliba.
The Arsenal star played through a back injury at the World Cup before breaking down in France’s semi-final defeat to Spain, and there are now fears that Saliba could be sidelined for up to five months.
With Stones available, he is viewed as a cost-effective option to help Arsenal cope in Saliba’s absence according to The Sun, who claim the newly minted Premier League champions could soon swoop for a player who has battled against them in title races of years past.
Mikel Arteta knows Stones well from his stint working as an assistant coach for Manchester City and the opportunity to continue playing in the Premier League with a club primed to compete for major honours would likely appeal to the player.
Stones, who is understood to have numerous options on the table including from suitors abroad, will consider his next move now that England’s involvement with the World Cup is over.
Arsenal’s interest in Stones comes following the bombshell news that one of their primary summer transfer targets, Morgan Rogers, is on the cusp of a blockbuster move to Chelsea.
The 23-year-old has been courted by both clubs for months with Arsenal keen to level up the left-hand side of their attack, an area Rogers is adept at operating in.
And while Arsenal have long been considered the red-hot favourites to land the former Middlesbrough star, it emerged on Saturday night that Chelsea have agreed a £117million for the Aston Villa attacker, with Stamford Bridge emerging as Rogers’ preferred destination despite Arsenal’s interest.
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