John Stones to Manchester City: England defender tells Everton he wants to join Pep Guardiola in £45m deal

JOHN STONES has told Everton he wants out so that he can join Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in a stunning £45 million deal.

Classy centre half Stones has come back from England duty to let the Toffees know of his desire to move on.

Stones and his camp have told Everton’s new boss Ronald Koeman that a major transfer to City is their favoured choice.

The defender grew unsettled under Roberto Martinez and was dropped when his form dipped. Now he wants a change of scene.

Guardiola, who took his first training session as Manchester City boss on Tuesday, sees Stones as one of his first key captures and he will offer straight cash or even the option of a player swap if that works.

Stones was chased by Chelsea last season but they have cooled while Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United are not involved in the bidding.

Everton want the best fee possible, knowing that Stones will have to be replaced and with a 15 per cent chunk of the cash going to his previous club Barnsley.