According to Dean Jones, speaking to GiveMeSport, Newcastle United are keen to start negotiations in the summer about the signing of John Stones.
On the surface, this looks like it could be an excellent signing. Stones is a Premier League-winning England international who would shore up the Magpies’ defence.
Newcastle fans have every right to be buzzing about the idea of signing Stones, but one member of the Toon Army who may not be too happy is Alan Shearer.
Indeed, the Magpies legend really doesn’t rate Stones, and he’s gone on the record a number of times in the past to lambaste him.
What’s been said?
Shearer has given Stones scathing criticisms in the past, perhaps most notably after Manchester City were beaten by Everton a few years ago.
“Everyone keeps saying to me and to the rest of the football world, that he is going to be a top player,” Shearer said.
“But I keep seeing John Stones make mistake after mistake after mistake.”
Shearer would then again criticise Stones in his column for The Sun.
“They didn’t replace Kompany in the summer so they now have few if any alternatives to playing Stones and Otamendi together,” Shearer wrote.
“They are an accident waiting to happen and when we talk about those two we are still talking about the mistakes over anything else.”
Risk
Shearer’s criticism of Stones is spot on, and while he’s a defender who is brilliant at playing out from the back, he needs a solid back four alongside him to cover for his weaknesses.
With all due respect, Dan Burn is no Ruben Dias, and if Stones came in as Newcastle’s marquee defensive signing, we really wouldn’t be surprised to see these mistakes creep back into his game.
Shearer doesn’t rate Stones for a reason, and Newcastle may want to tread carefully when exploring this avenue.
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