'John Stones could now join Man City exodus as Everton eye return deal'
Everton could be set to take advantage of the exodus set to take place at Man City this summer by snapping up their former star John Stones.
The 31-year-old departed Goodison Park in 2016 and has gone on to become one of the Premier League's most acclaimed defenders.
But for all his talent, the ex-Barnsley man has been consistently blighted by injuries, and it appears that patience has finally run thin in Manchester regarding the defender's repeated fitness issues.
After making just six Premier League starts last season, Stefan Borson revealed exclusively to Football Insider that Stones would be one of several big names City would look to move on from this summer.
And with Everton going through a rebuild of their own, it may be the perfect time for a reunion between player and club.
John Stones could be sold for the 'right offer' by Man City
According to a report from The Athletic, Stones could join the list of big names to move on this summer if a club comes in "with the right offer".
City are flush for options at centre-back thanks to having Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, and January arrivals Vitor Reis, and Abdukodir Khusanov on their books, potentially leaving Stones as the "extra body" when everyone is fit.
It has already been reported by The Mirror on 31 May that Everton are interested in bringing Stones back to the club, nine years after he departed for Manchester.
The defender reportedly has just one year remaining on his £250,000-a-week deal at the Etihad, but he would have to take a pay-cut to re-join his old club.
Furthermore, "City's asking price is unlikely to be prohibitive" as the club are aware of Stones' need for regular game time to push for a place in England's 2026 World Cup squad.
John Stones the perfect player to pair with Jarrad Branthwaite
Football Insider Verdict
If Everton were to get their hands on Stones for a fair price this summer, it would be an absolute steal.
We have seen very little of the defender in recent seasons, mainly owing to the various injuries he has sustained.
That has made it easy to forget just how fantastic Stones was in City's Champions League-winning campaign in 2023.
If the ex-Everton man can find his fitness, the Toffees could have one of the most talented centre-back pairings in the Premier League, with Jarrad Branthwaite's duel-winning dominance (63.4% duels won according to FotMob) complementing the 31-year-old's composed sweeping.
What's more, City have never been a club that stands in the way of a wantaway star, making the transfer achievable for Moyes' side.