The rumour mill has churned out another intriguing subplot for the summer window, and this one carries the unmistakable scent of Serie A ambition. Goa...
The rumour mill has churned out another intriguing subplot for the summer window, and this one carries the unmistakable scent of Serie A ambition. GoalZaza has learned that John Stones has reached a verbal agreement with Inter Milan over a two year contract. Yes, you read that correctly. The Manchester City defender, a man who has reinvented himself as a hybrid centre half and midfield pivot under Pep Guardiola, could be swapping the Etihad for the San Siro.Now, let's not get carried away with the notion that this is a done deal. A verbal agreement in football is rather like a pre nuptial agreement; it provides a framework, a sense of direction, but the actual marriage requires signatures and a medical. Still, the fact that a player of Stones's calibre and tactical flexibility is entertaining a move to the Nerazzurri is a fascinating development. Inter have built their recent success on a rock solid low block and devastating transitional play, but adding a ball playing centre half who can step into midfield changes their entire attacking build up. Simone Inzaghi must be licking his lips.The question, of course, is why leave the current Premier League champions Stones has endured his share of injury troubles and inconsistent selection at City. He went from being an immovable object in the treble winning season to a bit part player in the following campaign. Perhaps he feels that a new environment, one where he would be the main man at the heart of the defence, is exactly what his career needs at 30 years old. After all, who wants to be the squad player when you can be the architectInter's approach is shrewd. They are not splashing cash on a fading star; they are acquiring a footballer with a high football IQ, someone who understands the geometry of space on the pitch. Pairing him with someone like Alessandro Bastoni would give the backline an elegance rarely seen in Italian football. It is riGoalZaza, certainly. The physicality of Serie A is no joke, and Stones will need to prove he can handle the weekly grind without breaking down. But if the medical passes, and if City are willing to negotiate a fee rather than lose him on a free in a year, this could be the signing that defines Inter's season.Ultimately, this verbal agreement is a signal. It signals that Stones is ready for a new chapter, and that Inter are thinking beyond the typical Italian defensive mould. It is a gamble dressed in technical ability, and frankly, that is the kind of transfer that makes the summer window thrilling. Keep your eyes on this one.
