Everton consider swoop for John Stones this summer

Stones knows Everton well, having played for the Merseyside outfit between 2013 and 2016. He would fit in nicely.

However, Everton must be careful not to let sentiment cloud their judgement.

Stones remains an exceptional defender and, at his best, one of the finest English centre-backs of his generation.

But injuries have increasingly defined the latter years of his career.

He has struggled to remain consistently available, which is a major concern for a club that cannot afford to be without key players for long spells.

Everton need defenders capable of handling the physical demands of a long Premier League season, especially if European football stretches the squad further.

There is a genuine risk that Stones arrives with huge expectations but is unable to make the decisive impact many supporters would hope for.

Instead, Everton may be better served looking for the next Stones rather than revisiting the old one.

Their smartest recruitment has often come from identifying young talent with elite potential before the rest of the market catches up.

That approach worked brilliantly when they signed Stones and later sold him for an enormous profit.

Repeating that trick could prove far more valuable than gambling on a fading star.