John Stones: Everton to be priority as Man City defender wants England stay
Everton will surely be confident about getting a deal over the line for Manchester City defender John Stones in the upcoming transfer window.
According to The i Paper on 30 April, the Toffees are exploring the idea of re-signing the England international once his contract expires at the end of the season.
The news outlet reports that the centre-back, who has confirmed he will be leaving the Etihad Stadium, prefers to stay in the North West.
With the 31-year-old's prior history with the Blues, they should be confident about bringing him back to Merseyside in the summer.
David Moyes could reunite with Stones, whom he signed at Goodison Park in January 2013, and the defender's situation will be one to keep an eye on in L3.
Everton an obvious destination for John Stones
If Stones truly wants to remain in the North West, then there's certainly no better place for him than the Toffees.
Moves to Manchester United and Liverpool will surely be out of the question for the centre-back, leaving the Blues as the only viable option in the Premier League.
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Titles won |
| John Stones | 293 | 19 | 9 | 19 |
A return to the Merseyside outfit may end up being a priority for the Englishman in the coming months, but it remains to be seen whether Moyes will opt to sanction a deal.
The Scottish manager could undoubtedly do with someone of Stones' experience, especially if the club from L3 qualify for Europe.
John Stones doubts must be raised at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Everton already have one injury-prone defender in Jarrad Branthwaite and it wouldn't make sense to add another to the ranks.
While Stones has been one of the best centre-backs over the last decade, his persistent fitness issues are a major concern and could potentially be a concern for the decision-makers at the Merseyside outfit.
The Blues have already extended Michael Keane's contract, and with Jake O'Brien capable of playing at centre-back, The Friedkin Group may opt to focus their funds on reinforcing other areas, like right-back and centre-forward.
Signing a new centre-back shouldn't be a priority at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in the summer, which may raise doubts over a possible approach for Stones.