Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has urged John Stones to leave the Etihad and consider joining either Arsenal or Everton.
After enduring an injury-plagued season, Stones has tumbled down the pecking order at Manchester City. The 26-year-old defender could only manage 16 Premier League outings last term.
With Pep Guardiola clearly preferring young Eric Garcia, the English star’s future at the club is hanging in the balance. The Spanish manager has also added Nathan Ake to his defensive plethora.
Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly remains Manchester City’s top transfer target. The 29-year-old potential arrival would see Stones’ game-time further reduced next season.
The ex-Everton centre-back has already lost a place at the England national team. And there’s a genuine feeling that the time has come for a change of air.
Micah Richards, who endured similar fortunes at the Etihad in the past, believes Stones has to part ways with City.
“When a manager loses faith in you, it’s very hard to get that back,” Richards said, as relayed by the Daily Mirror.
“I remember pulling my hamstring against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
“I could just see in Manuel Pellegrini’s face that he’d lost faith in me in terms of ‘I can’t count on you to perform as I want you to perform without getting injured anymore.’
“And for me, when Stones is fit, and he’s playing Eric Garcia, a 19-year-old boy ahead of you in one of the biggest games of the season. It looks like the writing is on the wall.
“It’s very, very hard to come back from that. When Pep’s made his mind up with Yaya or Joe Hart or Sane, it doesn’t look like there’s any coming back from that.
“There’s no point in staying at City at the bench – that’s not going to do anything for him.
“I don’t think Everton is a bad move. People will say that’s going backward, but he’s loved by the fans. He’s got a great manager in Carlo Ancelotti to work under.
“Arsenal, he’s worked with Mikel Arteta at City, and he likes ball players.
“John Stones will have options no matter what because of his quality and age, but if 19-year-olds are playing ahead of you, you have to be looking at leaving.”
Stones made a name for himself at Everton before leaving Goodison Park in a deal worth £47.5million plus add-ons back in 2016.
A return to Liverpool may help him reignite his career. Michael Keane, Mason Holgate, and Yerry Mina are the current defensive options at Carlo Ancelotti’s disposal.
In such competition, Stones could stake a claim for a regular starting berth.
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