Chelsea’s new manager handed perfect first signing…and it won’t cost a penny
Chelsea have endured a horror campaign but ahead of this summer’s transfer window they’ve been urged to sign John Stones, who will leave Manchester City on a free
John Stones has been integral to Manchester City’s success – but will leave this summer(Image: Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
Chelsea have been urged to sign John Stones this summer with defender on the market after his Manchester City exit was announced.
The defender has been at the Etihad since 2016 and was among Pep Guardiola’s first signings. He’s been a crucial cog in their trophy-laden era but will seek a fresh challenge once the season ends having fallen down the pecking order.
Stones, now 31, has made 294 appearances for City and won six Premier League titles as well as the Champions League. His quality and winning experience would be a huge plus for any side and ex-Blue Glenn Hoddle insists Chelsea should be looking to make a move.
The west Londoners have endured a horror campaign, axing two managers, as their young squad fails to push on. Adding Stones, who has given no indication on his next move, would compliment their youthfulness.
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Former Chelsea and England manager Hoddle said on TNT Sports’ The Breakdown: “They need a couple of really experienced players that want to be there, but they’re good apples, they’re not bad apples.
“John Stones is going to move. He’s a certainty… I’d be going left, right and centre to get him. He’s a good character, a good player still.”
Chelsea are yet to appoint a successor to Liam Rosenior, who was sacked after only three months despite being handed a six-year deal. The Blues owners, fronted by Todd Boehly, have ploughed through managers since buying the club in 2022 and Hoddle feels as though the players have lost touch with the hierarchy, insisting that managerial changes have always been common place at Stamford Bridge.
Hoddle claimed: “I think there is a disillusionment within the players at the people above, at the top. Yes, Chelsea have changed so many managers over the years, they go through managers left, right and centre, but they bring in trophies all the time. Even last year they brought in two trophies.
“If I was at Chelsea now I’d call for a meeting with everyone. The owners, the players and the management and the staff ought to talk and thrash this out because there’s only one way it’s going to go and that’s on a downward spiral.
“I can’t see them having that sort of mentality at the moment, that spirit around the camp to have any chance of beating Manchester City.”
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