John Stones could make shock Everton return to save World Cup dream as Man City eye Jarrad Branthwaite swap transfer
JOHN STONES could make a shock return to Everton to keep his World Cup dream alive.And that may grease the wheels for Jarrad Branthwaite heading in the opposite direction as part of an all-change summer at Manchester City.Manchester City star John Stones could make a shock return to EvertonStones’ return to Everton would grease the wheels for Jarrad Branthwaite heading to Man CityStones was one of Pep Guardiola’s first signings as manager — costing £50million in 2016 — and is the only one of six players to join that year still at the club.Guardiola continues to rate him as one of Europe’s finest ball-playing centre-backs and would be quite happy to keep him at the Etihad.But the last two seasons have been an injury-ravaged disaster for Stones, who has been dogged by hip and particularly hamstring problems.The last of his 13 starts saw him limp out of the Champions League defeat at Real Madrid in February after only eight minutes.Read More on FootballAnd as fitness concerns limited his openings at City, he also faded from the England reckoning since his 83rd appearance in Finland in October.Stones, 31, knows he needs regular games to have any chance of forcing his way into boss Thomas Tuchel’s plans for next year’s World Cup.But although Guardiola is happy for him to stay, there are no guarantees on how much game action he will get — even though their relationship is as strong as ever.Stones would certainly play more at Everton but he has 12 months left on a £250,000-a-week Etihad contract.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAnd the Toffees, for all their new investment, are not going to sanction that kind of package for a player of his age and with his injury record.Yet Guardiola is well aware of that and club sources claim he would let the player go for peanuts as a gesture, which would leave wriggle room on personal terms.City would also hope the move puts them in pole position to sign Branthwaite, one of the best young centre-backs in the country.They are long-time admirers of the Cumbrian, 22, now the prize asset on Everton’s books and a summer target for a host of clubs — though Chelsea remain the hot favourites.If Stones does move to Merseyside, he would be linking up with the manager who signed him as an unknown Barnsley teenager in 2013.David Moyes paid £3m even though Stones had made just 22 starts in the Championship and he had three sensational years at Goodison.Although there was ill feeling from some fans at his departure — having pushed for a move — that would not harm his return. More
