Arsenal hit back with massive free transfer after Rodgers slap

England’s Arsenal are considering signing international defender John Stones as an emergency free agent amid growing concerns over the long-term absence of their French centre-back William Saliba with a back injury.

British newspaper The Sun reported on Sunday that the Gunners have yet to assess the seriousness of the 25-year-old Saliba’s injury, but there are fears he could be out for up to five months after he was forced to leave France’s World Cup semi-final loss to Spain due to chronic pain he can no longer take.

The development prompted the Premier League champions to turn their attention to Stones, 32, a free agent who ended his contract with Manchester City at the end of last June after 10 years at Al Samaoui.

Stones is an ideal choice for manager Mikel Arteta, who previously worked with him at Manchester City when he was Pep Guardiola’s assistant, giving him intimate knowledge of the England defender’s ability and technical capabilities.

Stones has made a remarkable appearance during the World Cup qualifiers after a lackluster performance in the opening match against Croatia. He started in the quarter-final against Norway and in the semi-final against Argentina, becoming the first free agent to represent England at the World Cup.

Stones and his agents are expected to assess his options after the tournament, with domestic and international interest in his services, while match time looks set to be decisive in deciding his next destination, especially after his limited appearances for City this season, having made just four appearances since November.

Arsenal’s move for Stones comes after they suffered a major blow in the transfer market, losing long-term target Morgan Rodgers, who joined Chelsea from Aston Villa for £117m to become the Blues’ most expensive British player in history, and is due to undergo a medical tomorrow, Monday.