Leading bookmaker Sky Bet has slashed Manchester City’s odds on signing Everton and England centre-back John Stones from 5/2 to evens.
The 21-year-old, who is included in Roy Hodgson’s 26-man squad for England’s upcoming friendlies and is expected to play at the European Championship in France this summer, has been heavily linked with a move away from Goodison Park in recent months.
Manchester City, cross-city rivals Manchester United and Chelsea have all shown interest in his services, but it appears that City have moved ahead of their competitors in the race to sign the promising youngster.
Any deal involving Stones leaving Everton is likely to cost upwards of £45m – the amount that Chelsea had rejected last summer.
If a deal for Stones were to go ahead, the defender would replace Martin Demichelis, who is out of contract in the summer, at the club and provide adequate back-up for the injury-prone Vincent Kompany and continue to develop his skills under Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola is also assessing Eliaquim Mangala, and the Frenchman could be set for a summer departure after a disappointing two years at the Etihad.
