Everton are now said to be closing in on the signing of John Stones.
Manchester City announced in April that the England international will depart the Etihad Stadium when his contract expires at the end of the season, which put Everton on alert as David Moyes searches for a new central defender.
Sportsboom now provide an update on John Stones – claiming that the former Toffee has decided to move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium instead of Newcastle.
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Everton close to signing John Stones
The report states that the 31-year-old is excited by the prospect of returning to Everton after holding ‘positive’ talks with Moyes.
Stones was actually the last signing Everton made under the Glaswegian before he left for Manchester United in 2013 – arriving in a £1.25m move from Barnsley in January 2013.
Sportsboom say Newcastle, Bournemouth and Coventry were also looking to sign the Manchester City No.5 this summer, but he favours a return to Merseyside – where he made 95 appearances for Everton before his £47.5m move to the Etihad Stadium in August 2016.
Having only made 16 appearances in all competitions this season due to a combination of injuries and competition for places, Stones is eager to resurrect his career and get back to playing regularly.
Sportsboom say Everton believe they can provide this for the Yorkshireman, who is said to have a very strong relationship with Moyes.
The move will give Everton another option in the centre of defence as Jarrad Branthwaite recovers from his hamstring injury – while Michael Keane sees his new contract expire at the end of next season, by which point he will be 34 years of age.
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James Tarkowski also turns 34 next season and will only have 12 months left on his contract at the end of next term, so it makes sense for Everton to sign a younger centre-back in Stones, albeit only a slightly younger option.
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