Pep Guardiola will keep faith with John Stones despite seeing the English defender drop down the pecking order at Manchester City.
Stones has not started a Premier League game since January and has made just 27 appearances in all competitions after suffering with injuries, but City will not look to offload the former Everton man this summer.
Guardiola splashed out £47.5million to sign Stones from Everton in 2016, but the 23-year-old has struggled to make the starting line-up in recent weeks with Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Otamendi and January signing Aymeric Laporte featuring instead.
Manchester City will not sell John Stones this summer, despite a drop in form
Stones, pictured conceding a penalty against Bristol City, is now fourth-choice centre back
STONES THIS SEASON Appearances: 27 Games started: 24 Minutes played: 2,073 Goals: 3 Chances created: 4 Passing accuracy: 95 per cent Tackles won: 15 Interceptions: 28 Blocks: 15 Errors leading to goals: 2
The Spaniard wants a new centre back to compete with Kompany and Co as he looks to build on City's title-winning season.
A defensive midfielder and a winger are also on Guardiola's summer shopping list.
Stones impressed at the start of the season but a hamstring injury in November kept him out for over a month. He has not played since March due to an abductor problem, although his manager hopes he will feature before the end of the season.
The former Barnsley star has just over four years left on his £100,000-a-week deal.
City manager Pep Guardiola has talked up Stones but does not feel he has improved enough
Stones, pictured in action with Brazil star Neymar, remains a favourite at international level
According to The Sun, Arsenal could be interested in Stones when they replace Arsene Wenger with a new manager at the end of the season, while Liverpool are also among his potential suitors.
Stones, who is expected to start for England at this summer's World Cup despite his lack of playing time, is said to be aware that he may need to leave the Etihad to play regularly next term.
City are already looking for defensive reinforcements to bring in this summer, with Sao Paulo's £20m-rated defender Eder Militao on their radar.