Manchester City: Should John Stones be handed one last chance?

With Eric García rising through the ranks this season from the academy to the Manchester City first team, it looked like the end of the road for £47.5 million defender John Stones in sky blue.

Central defense has been the theme of Manchester City’s bipolar 2019-20 campaign, with Aymeric Laporte’s injury triggering a spiraling Premier League downfall before his return has steadied the ship in Europe. John Stones has been at the heart of the discussion, as he has simply not looked up to the level demanded by Pep Guardiola, and most supporters had come to terms with the idea that he would be moved on this summer as part of a major transition at the back.

Those plans were thrown for a loop when Guardiola announced that 19-year old defender Eric García, who had become City’s first-choice center back alongside Laporte, would not extend his contract in order to return to boyhood club Barcelona. The club’s plan had seemed to be selling Stones and Nicolás Otamendi in order to bring in Nathan Aké and a big name win-now defender such as Kalidou Koulibaly.

Behind the partnership of Laporte and Koulibaly, Aké would provide cover along with García, who could continue his development and eventually become a permanent fixture in City’s first-choice XI. Assuming García will leave on an undervalued transfer figure, as is currently being reported, City are left with multiple options, none of which are ideal.

The first and most obvious is to continue with every aspect of this plan, but sign a young defender such as Villarreal’s Pau Torres who can serve as García’s replacement. Alternatively, the club could show faith in academy prospect Taylor Harwood-Bellis or Tosin Adarabioyo, fresh off an impressive loan stint at Blackburn Rovers. While the second idea is appealing, City could also consider one final option: selling Otamendi and giving Stones one last chance.

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There is undoubtedly a good player within the Englishman, but a lack of confidence, injury issues, and bad situations have seriously hampered his development. The beginning of Stones’ decline at City was during the team’s 14-match unbeaten streak to pip Liverpool to the 2018-19 Premier League title. Following an injury, he was unable to unseat club legend and captain Vincent Kompany from the starting lineup, who steered the team to the title before departing that summer for Anderlecht. Stones continued his poor form with a dismal Nations League showing for the Three Lions, and has had major injury issues ever since.

When fit, he was often forced to play alongside Otamendi, a partnership that in this day in age is terrifying for any City fan, as evidenced by the team’s horrific loss against bottom-feeders Norwich City early this season. Stones is a much better player when at full confidence and when paired with Laporte, who can lead the backline with confidence and allow Stones to just keep everything in front of him.

If City are to sell him, they should hope to command at least £30 million, which would primarily be funneled into a massive deal for a player like Koulibaly. However, City must have enough cover in central defense to avoid a catastrophe like what occurred this season when a replacement was not signed for Kompany, which led to Fernandinho featuring at the back.

While there is no completely correct answer for how City should proceed, the option of keeping Stones should at least be considered. The team does have other needs beside center back, and Stones does bring experience and knowledge of Guardiola’s system along with ball-playing ability and natural talent. City did not expect to be in this position, but now, they must consider all options with the utmost care.