Manchester City centre-back John Stones looks set to end his 13-year career in the Premier League and is edging closer to a move to the Italian top-flight, with Scudetto Champions Inter Milan at the front of the queue.
Since moving from Everton in 2016, Stones has been part of Manchester City’s most successful period in history, and he has picked up six Premier League titles, a Champions League medal, three FA Cups, and three EFL trophy wins. And now, as a new era begins at the Etihad Stadium, reports in Italy suggest that Stones has verbally agreed to join I Nerazzurri in their title defence, where he could be set to join former Sky Blues colleague Manuel Akanji in the Inter backline.
Capped 94 times for England, Stones has been deployed in a central midfield role for his club, and he is the profile of player who can succeed in Serie A. His representatives have now started to hammer out the details of a two-year contract with the Italian giants. Juventus have been reported to have made contact with Stones’ agent over the weekend, but it looks like Inter have stolen a march on the Old Lady, while Premier League clubs Chelsea and Arsenal are still watching the situation with interest.
Elsewhere at Manchester City, keeper James Trafford is on the verge of completing a £40 million move to Leeds United with his chances limited at the Etihad since the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma, while Leeds keeper Illan Meslier has joined Arsenal on a free transfer as an understudy to David Raya and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
And possibly the most important negotiations at City this summer concern midfield ace Rodri. The World Cup star has been tracked by Real Madrid and the Sky Blues are keen to put an end to any speculation.
Chelsea go for experience
Since the arrival at Stamford Bridge of US billionaire Todd Boehly, Chelsea have spent eye-watering figures on potentially great players, who have taken time to settle into the English to- flight. But last season, the Premier League 2026 results simply were not good enough, and the Blues finished in 10th place.
So the club seems to have taken note and has been linked with two veteran players, Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck, to give their squad some balance and experience. This is a real about-turn for a club which last paid a fee for a player over 26 years of age when they signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona, and it is two years since they selected a player over 30, when Thiago Silva played for Chelsea at the grand old age of 39.
35-year-old Brighton striker Welbeck was the ninth top scorer in the Premier League last term with 13 goals, and he’s a clever player who can still do a job at the very top level, while Henderson, now 36, was a surprise inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad.
After a period in the Saudi Pro League and the Dutch Eredivisie, Henderson returned to the Premier League to play for Brentford, making 32 appearances as the Bees finished ninth last term, a place above Chelsea. He’s a popular player in the England camp, Morgan Rogers, who has moved to Chelsea from Aston Villa, saying: “If people did a ranking of people they would want at the camp beforehand, he would be in everyone’s top five.”
Henderson could be a leader on the pitch at Chelsea for his potentially new manager Xabi Alonso, another former Liverpool star, and I can see this one happening.
North London matters
Champions Arsenal have been sensationally linked with Vinicius Junior, and this is a story we’ll keep abreast of here at SBOTOP as, if it comes off, it will be the deal of the summer. Following his return from the World Cup, the Brazil star has yet to return to training with Los Blancos. And while he has not indicated a desire to move (yet), Vinicius’ contract negotiations have been difficult and are yet to be resolved.
Meanwhile, the champions are also chasing Vinicius’ compatriot Bruno Guimaraes, who is Newcastle United’s midfield captain. The Magpies are adamant they will not sell the Brazil star, but every club has its price.
Across the road at Tottenham Hotspur, Roberto De Zerbi has already signed Sandro Tonali, and that could be a masterstroke of a signing. After two 17th-place finishes, Spurs are the sixth favourites to win the 2026-27 title according to the early Premier League 2026 betting odds, and without European football as a distraction, I can see them making a charge on the top four.
Centre-back Micky van de Ven, who has been widely admired by other clubs, is happy to play under De Zerbi, saying: “It’s going to be different compared to the manager we had last season. It’s going to be more with the ball, I think, more about playing football. I think it’s also going to be more enjoyable for people to watch because we’ll be playing offensive football.”
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