Inter Milan face January decision over John Stones’ future

John Stones’ uncertain start at Inter Milan could force the club to consider replacing him in January, with a defensive signing potentially leaving the England international fighting for his place in the squad.

The former Manchester City defender has played only 144 minutes this season and has been unavailable for around a month and a half because of injury. His latest appearance came on 14 September, when he was hurt during Inter’s 5-3 win over Udinese.

Stones subsequently missed six Serie A matches and three Champions League games. Although coach Cristian Chivu included him in the squad for the match against Como, he remained an unused substitute.

His 144 minutes this season have come across four matches. He played 45 minutes against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu, 15 against Monza, 22 against Cagliari and 63 against Udinese. The Udinese fixture was the only game he started before his injury.

The limited involvement has renewed concerns about Stones’ fitness, after a series of injury problems affected his consistency in recent seasons. He made only 18 appearances last season, totalling 1,144 minutes, and was not named in Inter’s Serie A starting line-up from the beginning of December until the end of May. His Champions League involvement was limited to the first four matches of the league phase.

Despite those concerns, Chivu continues to value the English defender and believes he can contribute once he regains full fitness.

However, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter could enter the winter transfer market for defensive cover if Stones’ fitness problems continue. Any new arrival would require Chivu to make room in the squad, potentially creating a more difficult situation for Stones and raising the possibility of an early departure or the termination of his contract.

The scenario has not been discussed formally within the club. Stones’ experience and record of success remain important factors in any assessment of his future.

He played a significant tactical role in Manchester City’s Champions League triumph in 2023, operating as a defensive midfielder and demonstrating that he can contribute beyond his traditional position at centre-back.

His recent availability record, though, remains a concern. Across the past five Premier League seasons, Stones has not reached 25 appearances in any campaign. His totals were 14, 23, 16, 11 and nine matches, with last season’s nine representing his lowest figure in that period.

This season, he has made three Serie A appearances, leaving Inter to assess whether his fitness can improve sufficiently for him to become a reliable part of Chivu’s plans.