Man City have identified a £75m “specimen” as John Stones’ replacement; however, he is seeking Champions League football for the upcoming season.

Manchester City has pinpointed a £75m “specimen” as a potential replacement for John Stones; however, he is looking for Champions League football next season. John Stones is one of the long-standing veterans that Manchester City might need to replace during the summer.

The 2024/25 season has proven to be challenging for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City squad, as their team has aged considerably in a short span. Manchester City’s most recent match ended in a 2-2 draw with Brighton, securing their position in fifth place on the Premier League table heading into the March international break.

Their next fixture is a quarter-final clash against Bournemouth in the FA Cup. Pep is expected to clean up his squad, with only nine games remaining before what is expected to be a major summer overhaul at the Etihad. While certain players, like Kevin De Bruyne, seem destined to leave, tougher decisions loom for players like Ederson, who is expected to leave Manchester City, and John Stones.

Since his move from Everton in 2016, the English defender has been a dedicated player for the Cityzens. However, his injury record has been disappointing in recent seasons. Manchester City is looking at Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton as a potential replacement for Stones. However, City might be looking to return to Goodison Park to sign their next Stones with a potential summer move for Jarrad Branthwaite.

Manchester United has continued their pursuit of the 22-year-old, who has made 22 Premier League appearances this season. The club’s previous offers were rejected, with Everton demanding nothing less than £75 million. According to the Daily Mail, Branthwaite has “drifted off the radar” for United, with Manchester City and Liverpool now inquiring about him ahead of the summer transfer window. Branthwaite is “open to leaving” Everton after failing to secure a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, and he was described as a “specimen” by former Everton manager Sean Dyche. However, the same report also indicates that Branthwaite “is likely to prioritise Champions League football,” suggesting that Pep will need a fourth-place finish to have a chance of signing him. Stones is expected to be one of the Manchester City players available for sale this summer, as has been reported frequently.

In fact, there have been reports indicating that Manchester City plans to sell Stones in the summer. However, selling him might be difficult due to his high wages and the fact that he has one more year left on his contract. Unless he is sold for a reduced price and agrees to a substantial wage cut, the transfer may not go through. Nonetheless, Pep recently mentioned that Stones will be at City next season, at least theoretically.

When questioned about his centre-back options, Pep said, “John will be there next season,” which suggests that he plans to keep the 30-year-old. Bringing in Branthwaite this summer to replace Stones, should he leave as a free agent in 2026, could be a sensible, though costly, decision for Manchester City. However, further long-term alternatives will be necessary.