Manchester City will need to splash out £40m for Chelsea target and Everton star

Manchester City have reportedly identified England international defender John Stones as their next priority transfer target, according to the Telegraph.

The Premier League side, who finished fourth in the English top-flight standings last term after pipping rivals Manchester United to the final UEFA Champions League spot, have been continually linked with a summer move for the highly-rated Everton centre-half ahead of the upcoming 2016/17 campaign.

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

The 22-year-old; who has 10 international caps for the Three Lions, but failed to make a single appearance during EURO 2016 as England bowed out in the Round of 16 to Iceland on Monday night, played 41 games in all competitions for the Toffees last season.

Stones, who arrived at Goodison Park from Barnsley back in January 2013 following his £3m switch, is being lined up as new Citizens boss Pep Guardiola’s next transfer target – with Ilkay Gundogan already in the bag and Spain forward Nolito close to joining.

However the report suggests that Man City will have to stump up a whopping £40m for the defender, who was subject to four unsuccessful bids from Premier League rivals Chelsea last summer.