Arsenal and Chelsea have both suffered a setback in their pursuit of John Stones, as the England international is reportedly on the verge of signing for Inter Milan. Stones, 32, became a free agent after leaving Manchester City when his contract expired, and his strong performances at the World Cup attracted interest from both London clubs.
Interest from Premier League clubs
Arsenal were considering a move for Stones after an injury concern emerged over William Saliba, who was forced off in France's semi-final against Spain with a back problem. Saliba had earlier revealed he had been playing through pain for months to help Arsenal win the Premier League and Champions League, though they lost the latter final to Paris Saint-Germain. Chelsea also held an interest in Stones as manager Xabi Alonso looks to reshape his squad. The Blues are strengthening their defence, with Maxence Lacroix set to join from Crystal Palace for £52 million and Marco Palestra arriving as a versatile full-back. They are also targeting Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chevarria to replace Marc Cucurella.
Agreement with Inter Milan
However, both Premier League sides may miss out on Stones entirely. Widespread reports indicate that the former Manchester City defender is in advanced talks with Inter Milan. David Ornstein reports that the deal is on track to be completed by the end of this week, while Fabrizio Romano has stated that an agreement is in place for Stones to join Inter on a two-year contract. Stones had an injury-hit final campaign at City, making only 15 appearances in all competitions. During his decade at the club, he won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, three League Cups, and the Champions League.
