Report: Stones informs Everton he wants to leave for Manchester City
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Everton defender John Stones is hoping to push through a transfer to Manchester City in time for the start of the club's preseason tour of China, according to the Guardian's Jamie Jackson.
New City manager Pep Guardiola is eager to find a young and ready substitute for the oft-injured Vincent Kompany, who will not be available for the first month of the upcoming Premier League season.
Everton has reportedly priced Stones at £50 million, but the cost isn't thought to be prohibitive for the City hierarchy.
Speculation has surrounded the 22-year-old's future for a second consecutive summer. The Toffees rejected three separate bids from Chelsea in 2015, as well as the player's transfer request.
But Jackson reports that Stones has informed the Merseyside outfit that he intends to leave for City this time around. The former Barnsley centre-back would expect to play beside Nicolas Otamendi in the heart of the City defence - at least until Kompany returns to full fitness. Stones can also play as a full-back.
Everton could look to complete a deal sooner rather than later as it tries to lock up Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly as a replacement. Koulibaly has been quoted at the same price as Stones, meaning the Goodison Park side would use the proceeds from City to facilitate a move for the Senegalese.
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