Euro 2016 is well and truly upon us and, understandably, dominates the news agenda. But don’t think that City have slipped off the radar when it comes to potential comings and goings – there’s about as much chance of that as England actually looking forward to a penalty shoot-out.
And it’s an England squad member who crops up – yet again – in connection to alleged interest from City in the shape of defender John Stones.
The Manchester Evening News claim that incoming Blues manager Pep Guardiola wants the Everton centre-back – an unused substitute in England’s disappointing 1-1 with Russia on Saturday – to bolster his defensive options.
And they claim that the new boss wants another new face to give him new options for his back four.
“Pep Guardiola wants John Stones AND Aymeric Laporte,” writes James Robson.
“The new Manchester City manager has identified both centre backs as targets this summer in a double deal that could cost as much as £85m.
“Despite having Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Otamendi, Eliaquim Mangala and Jason Denayer on the books at the Etihad, Guardiola is determined to land two of the most promising defenders in Europe.
“And he will continue his pursuit of £45m-rated Stones even if he wraps up a deal for Athletic Bilbao’s Laporte before the end of the Euros.”
The MEN’s version gets recycled in other publications – the Daily Express, for example.
