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    John Stones can thrive under Pep Guardiola

    John Stones can thrive under Pep Guardiola

    England defender John Stones is on the verge of completing a big money move from Everton to Manchester City. The deal has yet to be announced but City have included the centre-back in their Champions League play-off squad to face Steaua Bucharest.

    It’s a strange twist in what has been one of the summers most long-running transfer sagas. The 22-year-old is highly-rated and there has been talk of a fee of around £50million for the England international.

    City boss Pep Guardiola has stated his admiration for the player in the past and that the Citizens would like to sign him. It now looks likely that will happen in the near future.

    Stones had a torrid campaign last season, as the Toffees recorded a consecutive 11th place finish in the Premier League and were woeful in defence. However, Stones is regarded as a player with immense potential and he is the sort of centre-back that fits in well with Guardiola’s football philosophy.

    Stones is seen as a ball-playing centre-back, something that Guardiola loves in his central defenders, as his style of play is based on playing out from the back and keeping hold of possession.

    Guardiola is one of the best coaches in the world and in the Catalan boss Stones may have the perfect mentor. However, even if he would have stayed at Everton he would have had a good mentor in Ronald Koeman, who was renowned for his ability to step out of defence.

    Stones had his problems at Everton, but the move to City and the coaching of Guardiola may just bring the best out of the youngster. At 22 he is still young for a defender and has plenty of time to fulfil his supposed potential.

    Premier League

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    Football predictions
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    OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
    1
    Manchester City 18 6 6 0 0 11
    2
    Arsenal 15 6 5 0 1 5
    3
    Brighton 13 6 4 1 1 13
    4
    Brentford 10 6 2 4 0 6
    5
    Everton 10 6 2 4 0 3
    6
    Chelsea 10 6 3 1 2 2
    7
    Leeds United 9 6 2 3 1 3
    8
    Hull City 9 6 2 3 1 2
    9
    Liverpool 9 6 2 3 1 0
    10
    Ipswich Town 9 6 3 0 3 -3
    11
    Newcastle United 8 6 2 2 2 -3
    12
    Crystal Palace 7 6 2 1 3 -3
    13
    Manchester United 6 6 1 3 2 0
    14
    Coventry City 6 6 2 0 4 -6
    15
    Nottingham Forest 5 6 1 2 3 -3
    16
    Aston Villa 5 6 1 2 3 -5
    17
    Sunderland 4 6 1 1 4 -6
    18
    Bournemouth 3 6 0 3 3 -6
    19
    Tottenham 3 6 0 3 3 -6
    20
    Fulham 2 6 0 2 4 -4
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