Everton hold concerns over signing Manchester City defender out of contract next summer

Everton are concerned over John Stones’ injury record in recent years as they weigh up a move for the Manchester City defender in the summer transfer window, as per a new report.

Stones, 30, has endured a difficult few years at the Etihad Stadium with recurring injuries derailing the England international from realising his true potential and solidifying his place in central defender under Guardiola.

Signed in his first summer as Manchester City manager by Guardiola, Stones is one of the Catalan’s longest-serving servants in the current squad but his future is up in the air after another campaign marred by injury.

The Barnsley-born defender starred for Manchester City in their historic treble winning campaign and made a strong start to the current season with crucial injury-time goals in Premier League meetings with Arsenal and Wolves.

However, it has just not worked out for Stones in the last few years and the centre half, who came close to leaving the Blues in the summer of 2020, could be heading for the exit door as the season comes to a close.

Hugo Viana is set to take over from Txiki Begiristain as director of football in the coming months and a thorough audit of Guardiola’s squad could mean a long list of senior players who have not been reliable fitness-wise could all be shown the door.

According to Football Insider, Everton are weighing up a move for Stones in the summer as they look to replace the outgoing Michael Keane at the end of the season by bringing their former defender back to Merseyside.

However, there are concerns at Goodison Park over Stones’ miserable injury record over the years in Manchester and whether the Englishman can prove to be a potent replacement for Keane, who is out of contract in June.

Stones has indeed been a successful signing for Guardiola but it cannot be overlooked that his persistent struggles to keep himself fit for seasons at a stretch have proved detrimental to Manchester City over the years.

Guardiola has paid the price for personnel issues in central defence this term, with Manchester City failing to mount a challenge for the Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles in a sub-par season that crucially saw them lose Ballon d’Or winner Rodri to an ACL injury in September 2024.

City are expected to part ways with at least one of their centre-backs in the summer and with Stones entering the final 12 months of his contract at the Etihad Stadium, this would be the perfect time for all parties to shake hands and move on separately.