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Cape Town - Talks over a new contract extension for John Stones will commence after the upcoming international break.
The Manchester City and England central defender has just over two years left on his existing deal and has told his employers at the Etihad Stadium he wants to stay.
Stones, 25, presently earns around £130 000-per-week and can expect to be handed a decent increase to now secure the peak years of his career.
City paid Everton £49 million three years ago and now consider that good value for money - certainly in comparison to the £80 million they were quoted by Leicester City this summer for his Three Lions’ colleague Harry Maguire - who eventually joined cross-city rivals Manchester United.
The Premier League champions have managed to agree new deals for Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, Gabriel Jesus, Ederson and Ilkay Gundogan during the past year.
Boss Pep Guardiola is a massive advocate of Stones' ability to bring the ball out under pressure and has consistently defended the Barnsley-born defender despite some high-profile mistakes during his tenure.
Stones has missed the last two games through injury but is still perceived to be ahead of Nicolas Otamendi, when it comes to being Aymeric Laporte’s regular defensive partner.
It is understood City will not allow Stones' deal to lapse any further and talks are not likely to drag on before fresh terms are penned.
News of a possible new deal proves that the club is on point when it comes to the financial side of things as they would never let the former Barnsley ace to run down his contract and leave for nothing.
It is important to try and balance the books and it is inconceivable that City would let a player of Stones' value leave on a free as Arsenal did with Aaron Ramsay.
Working under a coach of Guardiola’s class and experience will only benefit a player and with the way that City operate, defenders get plenty of opportunities to show their skills going forward as well as in their own penalty area.
He must now get himself fit for both club and country as it is a big season internationally as well, with Euro 2020 on the horizon and a qualifying campaign set to resume next month.
Having been part of Gareth Southgate's Three Lions squad for the 2018 World Cup, Stones will doubtless be involved over the next few months and he may have a new deal under his belt as well.
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