The Blues currently see themselves well-stocked at centre back heading into another intriguing summer
John Stones after the Emirates FA Cup Semi Final match between Manchester City and Southampton. The former Everton defender has announced he will leave Man City in the summer. Photo by Pedro Porru/MB Media/Getty Images
Everton are understood to be content with their current options at centre back heading into a summer in which former defender John Stones will be looking for a new club.
The Blues have been perennially linked to the Manchester City star during recent years and have been mooted as a potential landing spot for the 31-year-old, who David Moyes brought to Merseyside at the end of his first spell in charge at Everton.
With the club’s summer transfer plans gathering pace, finding another centre back is not currently at the top of the new-look recruitment team’s agenda, though there are factors that could change that later down the line.
FOLLOW OUR EVERTON FC FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest EFC news and analysis from via the Liverpool Echo’s dedicated FB page
Everton will be looking to strengthen in defence in the summer but, with four specialist centre backs contracted to the club after Michael Keane signed a new deal last week, that is not the priority area. Keane extended his stint in Royal Blue by a further 12 months, a move inspired by his consistency over more than 30 games this season.
Most of those appearances have come alongside vice captain James Tarkowski, who signed a two-year deal with the club earlier this season. Keane’s opportunities have come with Jarrad Branthwaite – who signed his own new deal last summer – having struggled with hamstring injuries for much of the campaign. Branthwaite, who Moyes and Everton want to build the future around, has been ruled out of the rest of this season with a new hamstring issue.
While the problem is in the same hamstring he has suffered with previously, scans have identified the latest issue as being in a different area, providing hope this will not be a long term absence and that he will be back in time to undergo a full pre-season. Despite numerous hamstring issues there remains hope at Everton they are related to his youth and development and will not pose long term issues that dog his career.
The biggest factor that could lead to a change in approach at centre back would be if Branthwaite was to suffer problems during his recovery, though Everton were reassured the latest injury was not severe when they were provided with more detail by medics last week. Qualification for Europe and the subsequent need for a bigger squad could also be a factor, though Everton do intend to strengthen this summer regardless of whether they reach midweek football on the continent.
Should a search for a centre back develop then significant weight would be attached to a positive track record with injuries.
With Jake O’Brien, most commonly used at right back but a natural centre back, also available, Everton currently see themselves as well-stocked in the middle of the defence. O’Brien has been excellent when he has played in his preferred position and the main ambition this summer – from a defensive perspective – will be to address the club’s longstanding issues at right back. Not only would a specialist in that position improve Everton, it would free up O’Brien to move across to centre back if and when necessary.
The search for a right back comes with Nathan Patterson having failed to earn Moyes’ faith despite some positive appearances over the winter and with Seamus Coleman entering the final months of his contract. Moyes is eager for the club captain to remain at Finch Farm but it is not clear in what capacity, given Coleman’s own persistent injury issues.
The Blues came close to signing Kenny Tete last year, only for him to sign fresh terms with Fulham, and have continued their search since. There could also be movement at left back. As it stands, Vitalii Mykolenko’s contract is due to expire in the summer – though there have been talks over his future, which date back months to before Christmas. But Adam Aznou, a summer signing from Bayern Munich, is still yet to kick a ball in the Premier League and the teenager could well be available for loan in the summer – like he was in January.
Stones has enjoyed a magnificent career at Man City since signing from Everton in a near-£50m deal in the summer of 2016. He has won 19 trophies with the club, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League. He could yet exit with another title and a third FA Cup. Few players have been more significant to Pep Guardiola’s reign – Stones was indeed the second addition of the manager’s tenure.
The England star announced his departure from Man City this summer in a post on Instagram on Tuesday lunchtime that read: “They say all good things must come to an end… but this thing we have had has been the greatest and it will remain a part of me forever.”