A player has decided on his preferred landing spot between Everton, Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United and newly promoted Coventry City after “positive” negotiations.
Everton are planning an ambitious summer transfer window
The Friedkin Group reportedly announced their intention to back David Moyes this summer, and early signs suggest they may be serious about doing so.
Everton are in 10th place in the Premier League with 49 points, and with two games remaining, there is still no chance of them progressing to Europe.
It’s a perfectly solid platform to build on, but it’s not yet at the level where the new owners want the club to exist long-term.
The front line is the area where it is most needed.
As reported yesterday, Football Insider revealed that the Friedkin Group are prepared to spend big to sign a striker, while other media sources suggest the Toffees plan to revamp their defense as well.
Meanwhile, TEAMtalk also claims that Everton want to show a lot of ambition this summer.
Everton have been told to sign Manchester United star ‘perfect for David Moyes’ for £36m
He would be the ideal man.
Returning to defense, Michael Keane and James Tarkowski are now 33 years old, and the club are actively planning to sign a new centre-back.
That’s where one of Everton’s most interesting potential deals comes into play.
John Stones to move to Everton, Newcastle or Coventry
According to SportsBoom, former Toffee John Stones is inching closer to returning to Everton on a free transfer after spending 10 years at Man City.
The 31-year-old England international is out of contract in the summer and has plenty of options, with interest from Newcastle, Bournemouth and Coventry, but sources say Stones would prefer a return to Merseyside over any other transfer destination.
Indeed, despite the presence of Frank Lampard’s Magpies and European-chasing Bournemouth, he appears to have decided that the Hill Dickinson Stadium was the best fit for him.
It will be a remarkable full-circle moment.
Stones joined Everton from Barnsley as an unprepared 18-year-old in January 2013 and spent three seasons developing into one of the country’s most promising young defenders before City paid around £47.5m to take him to the Etihad in August 2016.
After that, his days were filled with trophies, but injuries took a toll.
The star is set to become an Everton player next season, with transfer talks planned.
He’s one of their most likely trades.
Stones has only played seven league games and a total of 353 minutes this season, but remains determined to qualify for this summer’s World Cup.
Moyes, who brought the Stones to the club in the first place, is said to be a big fan and is already in “positive talks” towards a reunion.
The manager sees the defender as the perfect person to lead the defensive transition – experienced enough to anchor the backline, authoritative enough to mentor the young players around him, and available to fit into Everton’s carefully managed budget.
Signing a player of Stones’ pedigree for free would be a statement, but Everton will need to be mindful of his recent injury history.
Friedkin Group plans to sign ‘big-money’ striker to Everton to support manager David Moyes
The Toffees want to get ambitious this summer.
