By Jason Jones

15th Mar, 2020 | 7:23pm

Kevin Phillips reacts to £50m Everton transfer report

Kevin Phillips has claimed that Everton will not make a move to sign John Stones from Manchester City this summer. 

A report from TEAMtalk suggested that the Toffees were keen to swoop for the defender, who they sold to the champions for £50 million in 2016.

The piece also states that the Blues are looking to recoup the entirety of that fee if they are to be persuaded to sell.

But Phillips does not believe that Carlo Ancelotti would be willing to pay that amount of money for the player.

Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “Personally, I think that’s too much money.

“I wouldn’t say Everton have been stung over years, but they’ve paid some big fees for players and they haven’t quite got the returns.

“Everton will be wary now unless they’re paying for a world class centre half.

“John Stones, I quite like him. He’s got to do a lot more, but I like the way he’s on the ball. He’s never afraid to get on the ball.

“But I don’t see him being worth that kind of money. If I’m being honest, I don’t see Everton going back in form him because I think the manager will be looking for somebody who can be a bit more solid.”

Would Stones be a good signing for the Toffees?

£50 million is a lot of money, and you would have to say that Stones has done very little to suggest he is worth that amount at the moment.

With fewer interceptions, clearances, and defensive duels won per game this term than Mason Holgate, as per Wyscout, it’s hard to find an obvious reason why the Blues would be lured into spending such a large amount of money on a player who doesn’t offer an improvement on what they already have at their disposal.

That’s not to say that Stones wouldn’t do a job, but if the club are serious about making advances under Carlo Ancelotti, surely they would be well advised to look forward, rather than back into their past.

In other Everton news, Report – Toffees set to finalise £30m summer swoop for Brazilian talent.