Everton are set to go after a centre-back this summer and John Stones is apparently in the club’s crosshairs.
The Toffees are set for a huge summer and a new central defender has been touted as a priority.
James Tarkowski and Michael Keane are not getting any younger, and there remain question marks over Jarrad Branthwaite’s ability to stay fit for a prolonged period.
Would a return for John Stones on a free make any sense for Everton? 🧐
His experience could prove priceless! 🏆
John Stones lifts the Premier League trophy for Manchester City.
Credit: Getty Images/Justin Setterfield
Lots of names have been floated in recent weeks.
And one name that persists is John Stones, who of course left the club in 2016.
He’s leaving Manchester City when his contract expires this summer, and a report has now outlined why Everton want to big him back.
Why Everton really want to re-sign John Stones
John Stones playing for Manchester City.
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Stones has been a top centre-back over the last five or six years.
He has enjoyed huge success at City and has won many titles, while also playing in a really unique way that has since seen a lot of players trying to emulate him.
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And Everton are seemingly very keen to sign him on a free transfer this summer.
Flashscore have now explained why Everton are so set on bringing him back to the club.
The article, written by Dean Jones, states that Everton are now ‘determined’ to sign Stones, and that there are three reasons in particular behind the interest.
They are that they like Stones’ experience, pedigree and mentality.
In terms of experience, Stones has played 428 club games to date since turning pro, and has 87 caps for England. Undoubtedly these figures would be much higher had he not had such bad luck with injuries.
There is certainly no doubting his pedigree, with Stones having won 14 major trophies and two Community Shields with City.
And Stones has regularly been praised for having a strong mentality and personality.
Pep Guardiola famously said of Stones in 2017 (via Independent): “John Stones has more personality than all of us here together in this room – and more balls as well.”
John Stones in England training.
Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images
Despite Stones’ poor injury record, there is plenty of interest in him ahead of the summer.
The likes of Bayern Munich and AC Milan have been linked, but it’s stated by Flashscore that Stones is thought to be open to the idea of returning to Merseyside.
So perhaps a move shouldn’t be ruled out.
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