The future of several players at Manchester City are up in the air heading into the final weeks of the summer transfer window.
Everton remain interested in Jack Grealish, with the winger being the biggest name linked with a move away from the Manchester club, while James McAtee is another who is yet to decide where he wants to continue his career ahead of the 25/26 campaign.
The Manchester club will find it hard to offload Kalvin Phillips, while loan moves are set to happen for players such as Claudio Echeverri and Sverre Nypan as Pep Guardiola looks for ways to trim his squad.
There have been rumours about another exit at the Etihad Stadium, but the City star has now shut them down, while suggesting he may never leave the Premier League giants.
John Stones warms up ahead of Manchester City v Al Ain.
Photo by Patrick Smith – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
John Stones could retire at Manchester City
John Stones has been linked with a move away from Man City this summer as the defender has just one year left on his current deal and suffered with fitness issues throughout the 24/25 campaign.
This was a big blow for the centre-back and the Manchester club, as the 31-year-old has been one of Guardiola’s best defenders throughout his time at the Premier League giants.
More Man City News
Amid doubt over his future, Stones plans to stay at Man City for the upcoming season, and the Englishman has now gone a step further by admitting that he could retire in Manchester.
“The [transfer] rumours I hear are ridiculous. This is my home,” Stones told Corriere dello Sport. “I’d like to stay. Maybe never [leave Man City]. I’m a little emotional.”
With one year left at Man City, this will be out of the player’s hands, but if the centre-back can remain fit and put in some good performances over the coming months, that could lead to a new deal.
John Stones is proud of his Man City career
Since joining Man City from Everton as part of a £47.5m deal in 2016, Stones has had an incredible career at the Etihad Stadium, winning every trophy club football has to offer.
Reflecting on his time at City, Stones has admitted that his time at the Manchester outfit is more than he could have ever hoped for, as it becomes clear how much the centre-back loves the club.
“I had hoped for it, maybe dreamed of it. The team was already strong. There were Agüero, De Bruyne, Silva, Yaya Touré. But the number of trophies we won was unpredictable, and I never, ever imagined I’d be part of the best team in the world for so many years. I’m extremely proud of that.”
The England star went on to become one of the best centre-backs in the world under Guardiola and this, along with the 277 appearances he has made so far for Man City, is certainly something the defender can be proud of.