Guardiola determined to sign Stones

The Manchester City boss will step up his attempts to reach a compromise over the £50million-rated Everton defender, who he rates as his No.1 target.

The Manchester City boss, however, is concerned at Everton’s insistence that there remains “a significant gap” between the two clubs’ valuation over Stones.

Sane has signed a five-year deal as he finally confirmed his move to the Etihad from Schalke yesterday.

But Everton are digging in their heels despite City’s take-it-or-leave-it £40million offer for the 22-year-old centre-back.

Everton have already dismissed the idea of taking striker Wilfried Bony in a cash-plus-player deal and are confident that City’s need to deliver the player for Guardiola is such that they will cave in eventually.

Should City relent it would make Stones the most expensive English player in football history, surpassing his England team-mate Raheem Sterling.

Action Images via Reuters John Stones