Manchester City will reportedly be sounded out by Everton over a deal to send John Stones back to the blue half of Merseyside this summer.
The England international has been a dependable performer for Pep Guardiola since leaving Goodison Park in 2016, making over 250 appearances for the Sky Blues across all tournaments.
However, a frustrating 2024-25 season for Stones saw the centre-back only play 20 times for City in all competitions, as he missed the final three months of the campaign with a serious hamstring injury.
Stones also spent time out with two separate foot problems earlier in the campaign and was limited to 11 Premier League appearances in total, starting six of those games and coming off the bench in a further five.
The 31-year-old will also soon enter the last 12 months of his contract at the Etihad Stadium, meaning that Man City will likely have to open the floor to bids this summer if they wish to recoup any of the £50m they paid for him in 2016.
Everton to 'sound out' Man City over Stones return
© Imago
Now, The Mirror claims that Everton are showing an interest in re-signing their former defender and are prepared to sound out Man City over a possible deal before the start of next season.
Stones played 95 times for Everton during his three-and-a-half years at Goodison Park, arriving from Barnsley midway through the 2012-13 season for a modest £3m and quickly proving himself in the Premier League.
City would reportedly be unlikely to stand in Stones's way of a move back to Merseyside, as they are sympathetic to the defender's yearning for more game time ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
While Guardiola supposedly believes that there is no better ball-playing defender at the club, there are 'serious questions' about whether his body can handle the intense schedule that comes with being a Man City player.
As a result, the Sky Blues are not expected to set a 'prohibitive' asking price for the 31-year-old, although he will have to accept a hit on his £250,000-a-week wages to head back to David Moyes's side.
Stones has won six Premier League titles and a Champions League in Manchester, but Guardiola has new blood coming through in defence in the shape of Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Juma Bah.
Could Stones help Man City land Jarrad Branthwaite?
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City may be well-stocked in the young centre-backs department, but the report adds that the Sky Blues are very much interested in a deal for Everton's newest rearguard talent Jarrad Branthwaite.
The Under-21 European champion is one of the hottest properties on the defensive market, supposedly also catching the eye of Chelsea and Manchester United, although Everton's interest in reuniting with Stones raises the prospect of a part-exchange deal.
Of course, City would still need to stump up a considerable cash sum to land Branthwaite - who is thought to be valued at around £70m by Everton - but including Stones as part of the transaction could drive the price down ever so slightly.
Man City and other clubs have until June 10 to make signings before the Club World Cup, after which the transfer window reopens again on June 16 and closes at 7pm on September 1.
Ben Knapton
