Harry Redknapp ‘surprised’ Man Utd, Chelsea or Arsenal did not sign Man City defender John Stones

Harry Redknapp is ‘surprised’ the Premier League clubs did not target John Stones (Picture: Sky Sports)

Harry Redknapp says he is ‘surprised’ Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal did not sign John Stones from Manchester City during the summer transfer window.

Stones, who has 19 caps for England, was heavily linked with a move away from the Etihad over the summer.

Manchester City spent more than £50m when they signed Stones from Everton in 2016 but he has struggled to cement a place in the starting XI under Pep Guardiola.

Former Tottenham manager Redknapp believes Stones is a ‘real player’, however, and says he expected either Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal to secure his signature.

‘Manchester United wanted to get Jadon Sancho in and that never happened,’ Redknapp told Sky Sports.

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‘The new left-back [Alex Telles] sounds like he’s a good player. But I still thought they needed a new central defender. They needed that and that’s not happened.

‘I’m surprised someone didn’t take John Stones. I’m a big fan. I think he’s a real player.

John Stones was linked with a move away from Manchester City (Picture: Getty)

‘If someone got hold of him and got some confidence in him, he’s got all the tools. I like him, personally.

‘Someone like Arsenal, Chelsea. It’s a mixed bag for Manchester United. Ole needs players for now, not tomorrow.

‘It’s not a five-year plan. If you have a bad run of results, you’re out. He needed players for now. They needed a centre-half now.’

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While Manchester United did not sign Stones, they did wrap up deadline day deals for Edinson Cavani, Alex Telles, Amad Diallo and Facundo Pellistri.

Arsenal, meanwhile, completed a shock £45m deal for Thomas Partey.

Chelsea failed to bolster Frank Lampard’s squad on deadline day but had already spent more than £200m on the likes of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz.

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