Chelsea: The Blues should take a flyer on John Stones

Chelsea has been linked with Manchester City defender John Stones at a bargain price. The English centerback is worth taking a flyer on, but only for cheap.

If you’re old enough to remember the rumors linking Everton’s John Stones to Chelsea, you’re old enough to a remember a time he was one of the most sought-after players in England. He’s since moved to Manchester City—where he has won the Premier League twice, the League Cup three times, the FA Cup once and the Community Shield twice, but also faced his fair share of criticism.

As Pep Guardiola looks to strengthen his defense with the war-chest of funds available to him, Stones looks to be the casualty of the retooling at the back. As Chelsea puts together a rebuild of its own, the Blues may want to look at the out-of-favor centerback in hopes he can play a part. Stones is reportedly available at a bargain price, one in which Chelsea should jump on without hesitation.

Many will have their reservations about Stones joining the Blues and rightfully so; he’s got an extensive injury history and has fallen out of favor with Guardiola due to a string of poor performances. However, he’s still incredibly talented.

Stones is in the prime of his career and if Frank Lampard can get the best out of him, he’s got a few years left at that stage. £20 million is a steal for anybody who has the potential of the veteran defender. In a day and age where figures north of £80 million are being thrown around for other English players like Ben Chilwell and Jadon Sancho, the small fee is a perfect price for a club looking to rebuild like Chelsea is. It goes without saying, Stones is no Chilwell or Sancho, but the point remains.

Stones is a perfect target for the Blues because he’s low risk-high reward—much like the £15 million transfer of Ross Barkley back in 2018. Worst case scenario, Stones is a bench player who Marina Granovskaia and Petr Cech will flip for a profit in a few years’ time. On the other hand, if the 26-year-old finds his footing in the Premiership again, the Blues found themselves a special player at a discounted price.

During his time at Man City, Stones has played in 85 Premier League games and 19 Champions League matches. His experience is unmatched on the open market for that kind of price at that age. Chelsea fans are calling for players like Lewis Dunk and James Tarkowski to be signed, but they’re both older and more unproven in the top tier of European football. That’s not to discredit Dunk and Tarkowski, they’re wonderful defenders, but both Brighton and Burnley would demand fees likely double what Stones’ is allegedly going for.

Stones should be brought in to contend for a starting spot, but by no means should it automatically be his. Much like what Man City is doing with Nathan Ake, Chelsea should bring in the English centerback to compete for a spot, but be up front about the likelihood of coming off the bench. The Blues need a marquee centerback to anchor the defense. Stones has the potential to be that player, but is currently miles off what is required to solidify Chelsea’s back line.

The board should pull the trigger on the signing of Stones, but it should be viewed as a bargain pick with no starting guarantees. In the end, it’s the price that attracts the Blues to the centerback, not the level of play. The potential is undoubtedly there, the questions surround Stones’ ability to find himself once again—Chelsea can help him do just that.