Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta is interested in signing Manchester City center back John Stones in a loan deal during the January Transfer window.
Stones has not been playing for the Champions this season despite Aymeric Laporte being injured and Nicholas Otamendi out of form, Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has instead opted to play Fernandinho in defense despite him being naturally a midfielder.
Mikel Arteta knows of the qualities John Stones offers having worked with him for three years when he was the assistant manager at City.
Arteta is short of center backs at Arsenal folwing the season-ending injury to Calum Chambers and the deal that saw Dinos Mavropanos join Nurnberg on loan until the end of the season. That leaves Arsenal with only three fit center backs, Sokratis, David Luiz, and World Cup winner Shkodran Mustafi.
Shkodran Mustafi has fallen down the pecking order at the club and the expectation is that he will exit in the January Transfer window. Stones is highly rated by Arteta and suits his philosophy of playing the ball out from the back to launch quick attacks.
The English center back is also said to be ready for a move as it would guarantee him playing time ahead of this summers European Championships.
The only stumbling block is his fitness which has not been the best in the past two seasons. He started the current season injured.