Guardiola makes Stones priority after Sané capture

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made signing Everton's John Stones his priority, following the Citizens' capture of Leroy Sané, according to reports.

The Mirror is reporting that, following the £37 million signing of Sané from Schalke 04, Guardiola now want the club to focus their efforts on bringing in 22-year-old defender Stones from Everton.

Stones has been linked with a move to the Etihad all summer, but it appears that the two clubs are some way apart in their respective valuations of the England international.

City are thought to have made a take it or leave it final offer of £40 million for the player, while Everton are holding out for £50 million for the former Barnsley man.

Stones wanted to leave Everton last summer when he was the subject of a £40 million bid from Chelsea, but the Goodison Park club refused to sell one of their prized assets.

And again this summer it is believed that Stones has set his sights on leaving Merseyside and is keen to work under Guardiola.

Guardiola sees Stones as the ideal ball-playing centre-back for his new look City side. The Catalan tactician enjoyed incredible success with Gerard Pique and Jerome Boateng at FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich respectively, both of whom are comfortable in possession like Stones.

Guardiola has already been busy in the transfer market since arriving in Manchester, having sealed deals for Ilkay Gundogan, Nolito, Alexandr Zinchenko and Sané.