Royal Blue Mersey - John Stones moves to Manchester City from EvertonIt's a grand old team to supporthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52544/royal_fav.png2016-08-10T16:16:53+01:00http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/rss/stream/121784852016-08-10T16:16:53+01:002016-08-10T16:16:53+01:00Everton captain Jagielka messages Stones on Instagram
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<figcaption>Jagielka with Stones in happier days | Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Defender pairing no more</p> <p id="0E61Sm">Everton club captain Phil Jagielka has sent his best wishes to departed defender John Stones on his Instagram account.</p>
<p id="4J3QuN">The transfer of Stones to Manchester City was <a href="http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/8/9/12414444/john-stones-moves-to-manchester-city-from-everton">completed</a> early yesterday morning, with the player signing a new six-year contract at the Etihad. </p>
<p id="CaTbJy">Jagielka said - </p>
<blockquote id="TzhR8j"><p>Going to miss this guy, all the best at your new club ✏️⚽️</p></blockquote>
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</div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BI7Wx53ATFe/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Going to miss this guy, all the best at your new club ✏️⚽️</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Phil Jagielka (@pjags06) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-08-10T12:01:39+00:00">Aug 10, 2016 at 5:01am PDT</time></p>
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https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/8/10/12423218/everton-captain-phil-jagielka-messages-john-stones-on-instagram-manchester-cityCalvin2016-08-09T18:14:46+01:002016-08-09T18:14:46+01:00Stones farewell message to Everton
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<img alt="Barnsley v Everton - Capital One Cup Second Round" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/maAhop3PgZqRxn8h-AjkWoB6p9I=/250x0:3016x1844/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50330071/485286592.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>John Stones | Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Stones farewell message</p> <p id="2EwOev">John Stones has posted a note on his Instagram page thanking everyone at Everton for his time at the club. The defender was sold to Manchester City <a href="http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/8/9/12410660/man-city-complete-signing-of-john-stones-from-everton">earlier this morning</a> for £47.5m, with £2.5m in add-ons.</p>
<p id="xgbEKP">Toffees midfielder Ross Barkley <a href="http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/8/9/12411660/ross-barkley-expresses-disappointment-over-john-stones-transfer-gutted-everton-manchester-city">posted a picture</a> with Stones on Instagram as well, saying he was ‘gutted’. </p>
<p id="rly0I7">The statement alongside the montage of pictures with the player read - </p>
<blockquote id="GvsD8Q"><p>I would also like to say a huge thank you to everyone connected to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/everton/">@everton</a> for their help and support during my time at the club and I wish them all the best. Would like to say a special thanks to the Chairman, fans and also all of my teammates, thanks for everything lads will miss you all!</p></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
</div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BI5OxmAgbXY/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">I would also like to say a huge thank you to everyone connected to @everton for their help and support during my time at the club and I wish them all the best. Would like to say a special thanks to the Chairman, fans and also all of my teammates, thanks for everything lads will miss you all!</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by John Stones (@johnstonesofficial) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-08-09T16:13:13+00:00">Aug 9, 2016 at 9:13am PDT</time></p>
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<p id="xgaUcM">Stones kept it classy despite having had a rocky relationship at times with the fans, especially last season when his form dipped and reports came out that he had asked for a transfer amidst the attention from Chelsea. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/8/9/12414358/departed-defender-john-stones-thanks-everton-organization-and-fans-transfer-manchester-cityCalvin2016-08-09T15:10:21+01:002016-08-09T15:10:21+01:00Barkley expresses disappointment over Stones transfer
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<img alt="A.F.C. Bournemouth v Everton - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_D_tspC_YM497nQnI-6v0fSsRz4=/5x0:3821x2544/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50328141/499062554.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Everton bromance is over | Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Gutted to see him leave</p> <p id="h2enbm">Everton midfielder Ross Barkley shared a picture on Instagram of him and former Toffees defender John Stones from their time together in the England Euro 2016 camp, saying - </p>
<blockquote id="ijNNM3"><p>“Gutted to see my mate leave today, going to miss him around the place and on the pitch. All the best lad.“</p></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
</div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BI4pn5lBwae/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Gutted to see my mate leave today, going to miss him around the place and on the pitch. All the best lad. </a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Ross Barkley (@rossbarkley) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-08-09T10:48:35+00:00">Aug 9, 2016 at 3:48am PDT</time></p>
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<p id="ox8lAa">While it’s easy for fans to express satisfaction or disappointment when players get transferred, this is a reminder that footballers are humans too and prone to the same emotions that fans often vent as well. </p>
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https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/8/9/12411660/ross-barkley-expresses-disappointment-over-john-stones-transfer-gutted-everton-manchester-cityCalvin2016-08-09T12:24:02+01:002016-08-09T12:24:02+01:00Stones transfer a disgrace to both clubs
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<img alt="Everton v Espanyol: Pre-Season Friendly" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CIGCNRjZM1gbHKcNo2315z4kJ1k=/0x0:1934x1289/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50327337/586425196.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>John Stones | Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Outraged about how this went down? You should be. </p> <p id="GsRhVc"><em>The editorial below is the personal opinion of the writer and does not reflect in any way the position of Royal Blue Mersey or SB Nation. </em></p>
<p id="mo8XZJ">Now that the cat is out of the bag, you can’t quite keep the lid on things any more. Both Everton and Manchester City are sporting black eyes this morning after the fiasco of <a href="http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/8/9/12410660/man-city-complete-signing-of-john-stones-from-everton">John Stones’ transfer</a> left both clubs smarting with embarrassment. </p>
<p id="08gR5G">City manager Pep Guardiola had been asked multiple times about how he felt about Stones. It is the way with media nowadays, and rare is the manager that will say <em>“XYZ is a player for club ABC, and I will not speak about him”</em>, which is the correct thing to do in the situation. Until the Football Association fines a club and/or manager for tampering, this will continue relentlessly. </p>
<p id="lZyDKN">Everton for their part reportedly turned down a £42 million offer from City, as well as a player plus cash offer for the defender. However, at no point were any of these statements made officially, and fans were already bracing themselves for another protracted saga akin to the beginning of last season when Chelsea repeatedly tried to sign the player despite the Toffee’s firm refusal to let the player go. </p>
<p id="gVpqVn">Nothing seemed to have changed in the buildup to this new season, including the rumours that the player had submitted a transfer request as well, similar to last year. And it seemed like nothing had changed, with City refusing to meet the £50 million valuation the Blues had placed on the player, and Guardiola continuing to speak about the Everton player. </p>
<p id="0i2c8y">And then this morning it <a href="http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/8/9/12410644/is-this-proof-that-man-city-have-already-signed-john-stones-from-everton">all hit the fan</a>. News broke that City had actually <a href="http://www.squawka.com/news/everton-defender-john-stones-named-in-manchester-city-squad-for-champions-league-qualifier/743273#hpkFrKiTezzbeVby.99">submitted Stones’ name</a> in their Champions League roster along with the squad number of 24, the deadline for which was yesterday. </p>
<blockquote id="waQOU2"><p>“The defender has been named in the squad for the Premier League side’s Champions League play-off with Steaua Bucharest next Tuesday as the club look to secure their place in the group-stags of the elite competition.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="WrUeWU">The fiasco didn’t end there, as Manchester City were then contacted about the issue, and their patronizing answer rubbed Everton fans quite the wrong way. <a href="http://www.squawka.com/news/manchester-city-say-john-stones-inclusion-in-champions-league-squad-is-a-huge-embarrassment/743307">Talking to Sky Sport</a>, a club source said - </p>
<blockquote id="cjkHse">
<p>“Manchester City’s Champions League squad is a huge embarrassment for the club. However, the club are trying to keep their sense of humour about it.</p>
<p>“The player has not signed a contract with the club yet.</p>
<p>“It’s been a right royal mess.”</p>
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<p id="XW0TEU">I’d say a right royal mess is quite right, you smarmy moron. </p>
<p id="Wb8Xtz">And then finally there’s our royal blue club, who despite bringing in a new owner, new manager and overhauling the board, continue to come off like a bunch of bungling Benny Hill sidekicks the likes of which we’ve only ever see on the telly. </p>
<p id="fOMY9V">The only official word from the club so far has been a day late, starting with first this lame tweet - </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">CONFIRMED: John Stones has today joined Manchester City for a record transfer fee. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EFC?src=hash">#EFC</a></p>— Everton (@Everton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Everton/status/762950570055462912">August 9, 2016</a>
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<p id="GaMoYZ">And then these three sentences on <a href="http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2016/08/09/stones-departs-in-record-deal">the club website</a> - </p>
<blockquote id="bM0z47">
<p>John Stones has joined Manchester City for a record transfer fee.</p>
<p>Stones arrived at Everton from Barnsley on transfer deadline day in January 2013 for £3million. </p>
<p>His Blues debut came in a League Cup win over Stevenage seven months later and, in total, he made 95 appearances for the Club, scoring one Premier League goal.</p>
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<p id="Me0cRb">The sheer ridiculousness of the whole fiasco has me shaking my head this morning. What happened to all the talk about keeping our best players, and having a £100 million transfer kitty so that we wouldn’t lose them? </p>
<p id="vtHG3q">So not only did we lose Stones, but the club doesn’t have the decency to come out ahead of time and say something to the fans about us giving up possibly the best English-born defender in years? </p>
<p id="rQ6s29">Call it fume, call it outrage, but Everton might shout loud from the rooftops that <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjIuo_KmrTOAhXMFh4KHdqkBCUQtwIIHDAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D2O7ZRrmcY7g&usg=AFQjCNFlKTEIOlC2gB8X8PP4-C7QbX5Tqw&sig2=9axj4UbO705EpzOtTIZ_5Q&bvm=bv.129389765,d.dmo">“Nothing will be the same”</a>, but at the end of the day we can all see clearly that everything remains exactly the same for our once-proud club. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/8/9/12410790/opinion-everton-defender-transfer-to-manchester-city-a-disgrace-to-both-clubs-john-stones-outrageCalvin2016-08-09T11:00:54+01:002016-08-09T11:00:54+01:00Man City complete signing of John Stones from Everton
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<img alt="Wayne Rooney Testimonial: Manchester United v Everton" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ReMyhU0j0uSLCS-HyddOj8wcBBY=/0x0:2130x1420/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50327237/585714940.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>England defender leaves Goodison for the Etihad</p> <p id="rA83PW">Manchester City have finally completed a deal to sign Everton defender John Stones.</p>
<p id="Kz9bNk">The fee is believed to be in the region of £47.5m though that could rise to £50m including add-ons.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Initial fee for Stones: £47.5m<br>Add ons: £1.25m each time City win CL during his time at the club (max twice)<br>Total could therefore be £50m</p>— Paul Hirst (@hirstclass) <a href="https://twitter.com/hirstclass/status/762967016361852929">August 9, 2016</a>
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<p id="cXQJcd">The deal ends a summer-long quest by City to land the England international and leaves Everton short of defensive cover with just four days to go until the new Premier League season.</p>
<p id="0eBhUi">Everton were always reluctant sellers but made it clear to Man City that any deal would only start at £50m, especially with the Blues then having to pay 15% of the transfer fee to Barnsley who they had originally bought the player from. </p>
<p id="uSh3di">In the end it seems the initial fee has been knocked down during the negotiations but could well hit £50m depending on Stone’s and Man City’s progress over the next few seasons.</p>
<p id="As1khT">Speculation had intensified early on Tuesday when Stones was named in Man City’s Champions League squad, despite no deal yet being announced.</p>
<p id="D1bLz0">It also added a touch of farce to what was already becoming a tedious transfer saga, coming as it did just 12 months after Chelsea’s botched attempts at signing the defender.</p>
<p id="IKtSYK">Now the deal is done though Everton can’t sit around feeling sort for themselves. Ronald Koeman and Steve Walsh must act quickly to bring in replacements.</p>
<p id="4c71Tr"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/8/9/12410660/man-city-complete-signing-of-john-stones-from-evertonTom Mallows2016-08-09T09:17:21+01:002016-08-09T09:17:21+01:00Is John Stones to Man City a done deal?
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<img alt="Everton v Espanyol: Pre-Season Friendly" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/s9TczqQ_FP6MoZrsfXxexaZN1bE=/0x0:1983x1322/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50327187/586430144.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Defender already included in Man City’s Champions League squad</p> <p id="2ZAk8v">Despite still officially being an Everton player Manchester City have seemingly taken the time out to include John Stones in their Champions League squad.</p>
<p id="hr2qD7"><a href="http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2017/clubs/club=52919/squad/index.html">According to the UEFA website</a> Stones is among City's registered defenders for their upcoming play-off against Steaua Bucharest complete with a squad number of 24. </p>
<p id="hJQkNv">The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium this summer but Everton are not budging on their £50m valuation for the former Barnsley youngster.</p>
<p id="FyMb7e">Are Man City being premature? Is this a cock-up on UEFA's part? Or is the deal already done and we just don't know about it?</p>
<p id="kvfpKA">Whatever the reason it merely increases the speculation about Stones' future and suggests it does indeed lie away from Goodison Park.</p>
<p id="Pu6Lhx">If that's the case then Ronald Koeman and Steve Walsh need to act quickly to bring in replacements with less than a week to go until the start of the new Premier League season. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/8/9/12410644/is-this-proof-that-man-city-have-already-signed-john-stones-from-evertonTom Mallows2016-07-29T23:28:22+01:002016-07-29T23:28:22+01:00£40 million is City’s final offer for defender
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<img alt="MK Dons v Everton - Pre-Season Friendly" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ItXFuS3PEPasoSFUC-GtRFHmicM=/0x0:2136x1424/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50250069/584714072.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>John Stones | Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Take it or leave it, they say to Everton</p> <p id="ArpCmp">Reports in <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Ffootball%2F2016%2F07%2F29%2Fmanchester-city-tell-everton-to-take-or-leave-40m-john-stones-bi%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Froyalbluemersey.sbnation.com%2F2016%2F7%2F29%2F12329514%2Fmanchester-city-40-million-is-final-offer-for-defender-john-stones-everton-transfer-collapse-deal" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">the media</a> 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 <a href="http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/7/27/12297110/manchester-city-re-opened-talks-star-defender-john-stones-everton-transfer-rumours">already rejected</a> 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. </p>
<p id="QjFiP5">Ronald Koeman has informed the player and his representation that he wants a <a href="http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/7/20/12234662/everton-want-quick-resolution-to-john-stones-potential-exit">quick resolution</a> to this situation to avoid the <a href="http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2015/7/18/8997697/john-stones-chelsea-transfer-rumours-latest?_ga=1.80501399.1438720533.1468749641">protracted transfer saga</a> with Chelsea that went on into the new season, ultimately proving disruptive to both the player and the club’s preparations.</p>
<p id="b5QNxV">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. </p>
<p id="Ha7HFd">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. </p>
<p id="v8szjP">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. </p>
<p id="VxLEgl">With the transfer window open for another month, the feeling is this one is far from over. </p>
<p id="CPVXmJ"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/7/29/12329514/manchester-city-40-million-is-final-offer-for-defender-john-stones-everton-transfer-collapse-dealCalvin2016-07-27T16:25:05+01:002016-07-27T16:25:05+01:00City have re-opened talks over star defender
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<img alt="Everton v Manchester City - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uOqrcDWtm3nt3XvCSJrN_4yi8U8=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50218939/485008930.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>John Stones takes on Sergio Aguero | Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Stones still a target for Guardiola</p> <p id="thCPKN">Pep Guardiola still desperately wants Everton defender John Stones at the Etihad this upcoming season. </p>
<p id="nVXgPJ">Manchester City have not been scared off by the Toffees’ £50m valuation of the young England center back. Everton have already rejected one £40m bid for the player, and <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3710781/Manchester-City-edge-closer-50million-deal-John-Stones-Everton.html">the Daily Mail</a> is now reporting that the Mancunians are hoping that the Blues will meet halfway at about £46-47m.</p>
<p id="d6KQNG">It has been rumored that City had offered Everton money plus Wilfried Bony, but the Goodison Park side summarily rejected that option and wanted straight cash. </p>
<p id="tM9HCO">City have already been rebuffed in their approach for Italian star defender Leonardo Bonucci, and Guardiola is still looking for a ball-playing defender to anchor his side. Neither captain Vincent Kompany nor £42m defender Eliaquim Mangala is the right player for that role. He has not ruled out using central midfielders like Fernandinho and Fernando in that spot either. </p>
<p id="QHVspg">Everton are under no compulsion to accept anything less than £50m from City, unless the rumored move for Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli really does have legs. If Stones does leave then Ronald Koeman is going to need an experienced back up for the central defensive pairing of Phil Jagielka and Ramiro Funes Mori. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2016/7/27/12297110/manchester-city-re-opened-talks-star-defender-john-stones-everton-transfer-rumoursCalvin