Manchester City could offer John Stones in a swap deal to sign Everton defensive mainstay Jarrad Branthwaite.
According to a report from The Sun, John Stones could secure a return to Everton this summer as he looks to bolster his chances of being at the next World Cup. His potential return to the Merseyside club could help Manchester City secure the services of their top target Jarrad Branthwaite.
City believes a swap deal involving Stones could help improve their chances of beating Chelsea to the signature of the English youth international.
Stones was one of the first players Pep Guardiola signed upon his arrival at City. They forked out a massive £50 million to sign him from Everton and to date, the Spanish manager believes the 31-year-old is still one of the best ball-playing centre-backs in the world.
Stones could secure a return to Everton
While Guardiola rates him highly and would love to have him at his disposal next season, Stones has struggled with fitness over the last two campaigns, and there is uncertainty over how much game time he will get moving forward.
With him entering the final year of his £250,000-a-week deal, a potential move away looks like a real possibility. Reports suggest he could secure a return to his former club Everton and reunite with David Moyes. A move to the Merseyside club will guarantee him regular games boosting his chance of making a return into the England squad ahead of the World Cup.
While his wages could prove to be a problem, City are willing to let him go for peanuts which could help the Merseyside club. In return, the Manchester-based giants are hoping to secure the services of Jarrad Branthwaite, who is amongst the best young defenders in the world.
City looking to beat Chelsea to Branthwaite’s signature
Guardiola seeks more quality and depth at the back and they are willing to go hard for the signature of the Everton mainstay. They are long-term admirers of the 22-year-old and have been monitoring his progress for a while now.
They are now ready to push hard for his signature and are hoping that sending Stones the other way could help them beat Chelsea to his signature. The Blues are favourites to win the race for the Everton centre-back and have been working on a potential deal for some time.
Enzo Maresca is looking for a new centre-back who can slot into their starting XI and Branthwaite is considered an ideal fit for them. He is a perfect fit for their project which revolves around signing the best young players, as a result, it will be interesting to see if they can win the race for his signature amidst interest from rivals City.