This isn't the first time that Everton have been linked with a reunion with centerback John Stones, who is currently representing his country at the World Cup.
But more recent rumors indicate that Everton are not only in talks with the defender over a return to Merseyside, but that the conversations are going well and would be considered "advanced" at this stage.
According to Neil Goulding at Sportsboom, discussions between the club and representatives for the 32-year-old defender have "progressed positively" and that Everton are "increasingly confident" in Stones' imminent return.
Everton sold Stones, then just 22, to Manchester City after a breakout 2015/16 campaign for the Toffees, for £47.5 million back in the summer of 2016. At the time, it was the second most expensive fee for a defender in the world behind the £50 million move by David Luis from Chelsea to PSG two years earlier.
During his tenure at City, Stones has been a regular fixture in Pep Guardiola's side when healthy, winning the Premier League six times, the FA Cup three times, three EFL Cups, two Community Shields, one Champions League title, the UEFA Super Cup, and one FIFA Club World Cup in a decade in Manchester.
He did, however, just turn 32 at the end of May, and his last two seasons have seen the England international mired by injury, playing in just 20 matches and failing to log 1000 minutes in the two campaigns combined.
Those questions of his health, especially next to Jarrad Branthwaite, who hasn't been a bastian of health in recent seasons either, will call to question why Stones is being brought back at all.
That doesn't even take into account what is a rather full unit of central defenders that Everton already have in the mix. In addition to Branthwaite, the Toffees have Jake O'Brien (who cannot be a right back any longer), James Tarkowski, and Michael Keane at that position.
That is not an implication that Stones, even at his age, wouldn't be a better third option than either Tarkowski or Keane, but there would a question about whether or not he's a nailed-on start if everyone is healthy.
The answer is probably "yes," but you wonder for how much longer that's the case. And his coming would mean O'Brien is once again a cast-off from his natural position, and likely headed for the bench, provided Everton finally solve the right back conundrum.
So this one feels like a strange move, not only because of all the bodies that are already there, but also because it doesn't feel like a long-term move for Everton. It could improve them for next year, but questions will remain about how long Stones' presence makes them better past that.
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