All is well in John Stones’ footballing universe currently as he continues to score vital late goals for Manchester City this season.
Stones’ last-gasp equaliser in Manchester City’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal and his winning goal their latest 2-1 victory against Wolves are goals that could potentially swing the Premier League title race in his side’s favour by the end of the season.
Stones has scored as many goals as Bukayo Saka in the league this campaign — which goes to show the goalscoring form he has found himself like a bolt from the blue.
Jack Grealish was esctatic after Stones’ winner against Wolves as he commented on his post-match Instagram post: “Johnny, Johnny Bones!”
The £47 million defender has singlehandedly won City four points due to his late goals this campaign.
Pep Guardiola praised Stones’ headed goal against Wolves by describing his finish as “magnificent.”
Man City set to offer John Stones new contract in the coming months
The 30-year-old has managed to emerge as an unlikely goalscorer this campaign.
The Englishman is accustomed to producing noteworthy moments in title races. During the 2018/2019 — the former Everton centre-back’s goal line clearance to keep Ederson Moraes’ potential own goal out of bounds decided City’s fate as the champions of England by one point over Jurgen Klopp’s troops.
As per a report by GiveMeSport, Manchester City are set to hand Stones a brand-new contract beyond 2026 in the coming months.
Pep Guardiola’s side are believed to have set themselves a target of persuading the six-time Premier League winner to pen a contract extension before the end of the ongoing season.
Talks over a fresh deal between City and Stones are expected to kickstart in the next few weeks.
Despite the decorated centre-back’s persistent injury problems over the past few years, key figures within the club still view him as a crucial player in the short and long term.
As a result, the decision-makers at Manchester City would like to tie Stones down to a contract extension before the end of the campaign to prevent potential suitors from turning his head in the summer.
Guardiola once promised Stones will stay at Man City as long as he is the manager
In 2018, Pep Guardiola rubbished rumours about the versatile colossus leaving Manchester City and guaranteed that the treble-winner will stay at the club until he remained the manager.
Guardiola said via Sky Sports: “I’m sorry for the guys who announce we’re going to want to sell him. I’m sorry – they lie. I’m not going to comment on the transfers when it’s fake news.
“I don’t know how people believe we’re going to sell John Stones. He is a young player, an international English player. He’s a huge part of the reason why we won the title.”
“I don’t know how long I will be here in Manchester, but as long as I’m here, John Stones will be with us.”
Pep Guardiola has fulfilled his promise so far and Manchester City seem happy to keep one of the oldest players in their squad for a few more years now.
Whether Stones is willing to prolong his love affair with City since the summer of 2016 is the question.
