Former Scout Reveals That Everton Would Love To Sign This English Defender: Is He The Right Fit? | OneFootball

David Moyes has reportedly positioned Everton to swoop for Manchester City defender John Stones. His contract expires this summer. This move follows City’s confirmed acquisition of Marc Guehi. The Goodison Park hierarchy is keeping close tabs on the 31-year-old.

Everton Monitor Stones as City Arrival Signals Exit

They anticipate his availability on a free transfer. Moyes originally brought a teenage Stones to Merseyside from Barnsley in 2013. He rates the England international highly. Moyes views Stones as a major step up from his current defensive options.

Marc Guehi’s £20m arrival at the Etihad Stadium yesterday has all but pushed Stones toward the exit. Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown backed up these rumours in a chat with Football Insider. As a close associate of Moyes from their West Ham tenure, Brown insisted that the Everton boss would love to secure Stones.

He noted the defender’s obvious quality. The former scout highlighted that everyone recognises his talent on the ball and defensive solidity. However, he noted that a move remains a gamble. He pointed to Stones’ inconsistent availability. City are now strengthening their backline. So, Stones looks set for a fresh challenge. Goodison Park offers a familiar landing spot.

“Everton would definitely be interested in Stones. When John Stones plays, everybody can see he’s a fantastic centre-half. Solid defensively, good on the ball, experienced. But it would be a gamble.

“He doesn’t play consistently enough; he’s lucky if he plays 20 games per season at the moment, and a club like Everton can’t afford to carry that. They’ve got to have players like James Tarkowski, who you know you can rely on every week.

“Moyesey would love to sign John Stones, there’s no doubt about that, he would definitely be an improvement on the options they’ve got at the moment. His contract is up at Man City, they’ve gone and brought Marc Guehi in, so it looks like he will be available for free. That’s always tempting.

“But those question marks about his injuries aren’t going away, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Everton backed off because they can’t count on him being available.”

A Rolls-Royce in a Demolition Derby?

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 22: John Stones of Manchester City looks on from the substitutes bench prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James’ Park on November 22, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Does John Stones actually fit the blueprint David Moyes has implemented at Everton? On paper, signing a decorated serial winner for zero transfer fee seems a no-brainer. Stones possesses technical grace that few centre-backs in history can rival.

The Englishman steps into midfield with elegance. He distributes possession with precision. Critics often accuse this Everton side of lacking composure. Stones would add a much-needed touch of class. However, the reality of Moyes’ current system demands a different profile entirely.

Moyes relies on physical resilience and defensive endurance. James Tarkowski lives and breathes these traits. He plays nearly every minute of every campaign. Stones, by contrast, has become a luxury player. Recurring muscle injuries often keep him on the sidelines for long stretches.

Brown’s assessment hits the nail on the head. Everton need soldiers who survive the weekly grind of the Premier League. They do not need artists who require careful management.

Placing Stones alongside Tarkowski creates a fascinating theoretical partnership, the ‘stopper’ and the ‘player’, but the burden falls back on an ageing squad if Stones spends half the season in the treatment room. The romance of a return is hard to ignore. Still, Moyes must decide if he wants a sporadic genius or a reliable grinder.