CHELSEA could make a move for Manchester City defender John Stones this summer, according to reports.
After the signings of Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner and their pursuit of Kai Havertz, the Blues will turn their attention to strengthening their defence.
Stones’ name has been thrown into consideration by the Chelsea recruitment team and the England international is on the club’s list of defensive targets, according to website Football Insider.
The 26-year-old’s injury troubles have caused him to fall down the pecking order at the Etihad.
With Man City rumoured to be chasing a new centre-back this summer the ex-Everton man’s future looks to be in doubt.
The Toffees, Arsenal and Newcastle have all been linked with a move for Stones.
Stones has two years left to run on his current contract but City look unlikely to recoup the £47.5million they splashed on the defender in the summer of 2016.
Stones has made just 16 Premier League appearances this season although has played a part in City’s last four games.
Chelsea are hopeful Stones can rediscover his best form to shore up a defence that has conceded 54 goals in the Premier League this season – more than any other side in the top half.
Ahead of their clash with Wolves this weekend, Blues boss Frank Lampard was positive he could turn his side’s defensive fortunes around.
“I think if you want to become a top coach you have to try to be very aware of all parts of the pitch,” he said.
“Some of the greatest coaches will come from different positions on the pitch, it’s more how aware you are of how you want your team to be collectively, and how you work with them individually.
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“And we have a coaching staff as a group which we work very hard to try to be as defensively good as we can be, of course.
“There are lots of mitigating circumstances around that, we’ve conceded too many goals, I’m very aware of it.
“I feel like I know a lot of the reasons why, and we need to keep working to make sure that we get that down.”
