£40 million is City’s final offer for defender

Reports in the media are saying that Manchester City’s offer of £40 million for John Stones will be their last and they will not be budging from their position. Everton have already rejected an offer of that amount, or a combination cash plus Wilfried Bony deal, and this transfer seems to be at a standstill now, much like every other transaction that the Toffees have been involved in this offseason.

Ronald Koeman has informed the player and his representation that he wants a quick resolution to this situation to avoid the protracted transfer saga with Chelsea that went on into the new season, ultimately proving disruptive to both the player and the club’s preparations.

Everton have proven to be notoriously tough negotiators in the transfer window as the Stamford Bridge club found out last season. City for their part have struggled to come to terms favorable to their cause in their past dealings with Bill Kenwright, first being forced to buy defender Joleon Lescott for not a pound less than £24m, a princely sum for a player who ended up making 107 appearances over five years. Then a couple of summers ago Everton slapped a £50m price tag on Ross Barkley and refused to lessen that valuation.

The Mancunians look ready to move on from their £42m purchase of defender Eliaquim Mangala, and are hesitant to make Stones the most expensive defender in English history. In fact, if they meet Everton’s asking price, that will make the centerback the most expensive English player in the game, overtaking Raheem Sterling who was also purchased by City last season, for £49m.

Stones is currently in Germany with the Everton squad and even though Pep Guardiola might be saying that this is ‘take it or leave it’, he will have to come back with a better deal to convince the Blues. Stones is rumoured to have put in a transfer request, but Everton are under no pressure to sell with the player under contract for another three years.

With the transfer window open for another month, the feeling is this one is far from over.