Talks underway with Man City over Stones

We all knew he would leave and this is great business if it comes in anywhere near the quoted £50m.

Strange to think that Stones's value may have increased by £12 million during a year when he was decidedly average. Even allowing for football's inflation rate, that is still quite surprising.

Worrying though that we seem to be going for two defensive players from two of the worst Premier League defences in recent history – doesn't fill me with confidence...

£50m? Good business for the Blues and Barnsley. Also gives Ronald the clarity to follow up with his own strategy.

Time moves on. I will be interested to see success for all parties. Was / is John overrated? possibly, only time will tell. Makes Roy Hodgson's Euro selection process look totally crass. What a stupid prick.

Interesting to see who the replacement will be, Koulibaly or Pennington et al. My preference is still keep the patient approach, hold the line and spend at Christmas when the situation is clearer. Although Jagielka's hammy is a worry...

I'm sure Koeman has at least one CB in mind although I'm not sure I'd want to get the guy from Napoli in if we're going to have to pay him over £100k/week. Van Djilk and Funes Mori would make a good pairing although I dread to think what Southampton would ask for him...

I wish him well and hope he realises what a lucky young man he is, given his performances last season.

But I certainly wouldn't sell him for less than that, as it'd be really interested to see his development under Koeman, but it's doubtful that'll happen now.

He does have unbelievable potential, and with the right coaching... and and somebody to instill into him the art of defending.

I'm surprised Jose (now at United) isn't fighting tooth and nail to get him there, he could turn Stones into an unbelievable CB.

The bottom line is – on his current form which was shocking at times last season (a good part of which can be put down to OFM system, lack of pressing and low confidence etc), he is more than replaceable, and will not be missed.

As Leicester, Wales, Iceland... have shown you don't have to have the best players to be effective team, if you're organised and work as a team.

Replacements: Koulibaly – doubt he'll come with West London and Chelsea as his other option, looks like that's now in progress.

I'd love Van Dirk, but that doesn't seem likely this season.

Who else are good potential replacements?

And for £50m I think we could do a lot better. Holgate is maturing rapidly, Galloway, Pennington and Browning are in reserve and if we get a "beast" in who can actually head the ball and clear the area as well as reading the game (something Stones is still learning) that will be good business.

Back that up with Jags and Funes Mori, a top class goalkeeper and that's the defence sorted for next season.

I remember when Rodwell moved to City and said "This is a dream come true", well we all know what happened. I believe Stones is getting some bad advice and this may be a good financial move for him and his agent but he better improve his defending otherwise he may be warming the bench more than he plays.

That said, anything even close to £50m on a £3m signing is hard to refuse.

More worryingly though, if this were to be concluded in the next week or so, we are down to RFM and the youngsters in central defence for the big kick off, as it doesn't sound like Jags will be ready for the start of the season - even when he's over his latest hamstring trouble, he'll be behind on pre-season fitness work.

Whether or not Stones goes, incoming players are urgently needed. RK seems very sanguine about it all. I'm not, not anymore. July has almost come and gone with not one single senior outfield player added (yes I know we have youngsters but they may or may not be ready). We shouldn't need the Stones money to start our own spending spree, not if everything we've heard about Moshiri's wealth and willingness to use it are true.

Signings please!!

Stonsey's made some feck-ups, expected playing at that position at such a young age (22 years old) but Jags is shocking – an absolute liability!

I've said countless times, we will always struggle with him involved and we always have! Stop blowing smoke up his arse... the guy is fucking past it.

We will miss Stonsey, the guy is top draw!! We will regret selling the lad at any price.

TV revenues are at an all time never before seen or dreamt of high and we have a billionaire "shareholder". Just one of those things alone ought to guarantee we don't sell our best players, nevermind both.

And yet in vintage Everton style we've spent zip with less than 3 weeks to go yet are happy to sell a player who will become an international star to a major rival?

£50m will look like a steal in a few years. Small time Everton. Some things never change. Depressing.

We're bigger than Man City, they're just richer. Tell them to fuck off &/or bid for Aguero.

Agree with all you say there, I'm gutted too and would love for us refuse to sell him for at least one year.

Have Mosdhri and Koeman tell him if he wants to go in a year he can - but we need you this season, it then gives us a season to see how the club develops on and off the pitch.

However, when a player wants to go sometimes its better to move them on if their mind is made up and they'll only drag the place down.

A sell on-clause – even 5% is a great idea!

OK so now we have lots of money, what can we do with it under current market conditions? I'd rely on our youngsters for a while and go for gold on the new stadium. Players are a lousy investment and we now have the opportunity to invest in a new modern ground.

I'm all for developing players and, under different circumstances, I'd have loved to see Stones at Everton for many a year, but if someone wants to throw silly money at us, WE'D be silly not to take it (on the proviso it's well spent on a top replacement).

Would have been chuffed with Koulibaly but that looks unlikely now. Hopefully Walsh & Koeman have got someone solid lined up.

Good business.

In the case of John Stones, it's obvious he wants to go so we have to get the best deal possible but I will be gutted seeing him in a Man City shirt strutting his stuff. The kid is a classy player, hasn't caused any trouble, is a model pro, popular with his team mates so, for me at least, I wish him all the best.

I'm not sure what he's worth in today's inflated market but right now I'd rather have a more solid, consistent centre back, so I'd say that pragmatism should override potential. His desire to play elsewhere merely confirms the reason to get rid of him – with appropriate sell-on clauses, of course.

If I was a betting man, I'd say that he'll go the way of Rodwell and Jeffers as an expensive bench-warmer, as he has too many limitations. Mark #31, I believe that reading the game is actually one of his weaknesses.

He has been completely derailed and confused by RM – and his need to start afresh is clear to understand. His poor decision making and plunging confidence last season is one of the worst examples of mismanagement I've seen in the 35 years I've been watching Everton.

Koeman was unfortunately one season too late to save him – the poison of disillusionment had already done its work.

Watch this lad blossom, in time, under a proper Manager – as he would surely have done under Koeman, and as a parallel, watch Ross now regain momentum under this new regime.

Very sad to see John go – I had contacts at Barnsley before he came to us, and his quality and potential has been seen way back.

But I'm very bitter at the damage done by Martinez and his ineptitude. Onwards and upwards.

Good luck, John.

Hopefully Koulibaly is the replacement with the money in hand.

Saddened by this. Don't understand why people are getting excited by the fee. You can't put £50m in the starting line-up.

If he leaves, I will only be cheered up when a good replacement is pictured holding the scarf aloft.

Holding a scarf aloft is something either I or Niasse could do – and I've got arthritis.

I do understand where you're coming from though – saddened also.

My opinion for what it's worth, is that Everton should sell any player who does not want to play for them, regardless how good they are or could become.

If John Stones is not sold now and shows professionalism by playing and possibly gets better next season, what chance does Everton have of keeping hold of him then?

Just a sad indictment on football that money is God, although Everton has got great financial backing now, it does not preclude clubs like City and United coming in and taking the best players from the club.

We move on, take the money knowing that our Manager knows a thing or two about defending and who to bring in...

It will be an interesting transfer window, maybe Rom is next?

I can't remember any game when I felt he positively influenced the outcome, but remember loads of games when he directly contributed to losing the points. Bottling it in the Derby and asking to come off was cowardly and not something I ever want to witness again. I think in the away leg at Man City he actually looked like he was deliberately trying to cost us the game, he also put in a transfer request so time to say bye and buy someone who can defend.

As for hanging onto him for another year, if he wants to go let him go now. I think he's put a brave face on it since his transfer request was denied last time to be honest, I don't think his hearts really with us anymore. I've got no problem with that, its a free world and its not like he's been gobbing off like Rom.

I don't want to spend a year improving a player for another club to benefit either, anymore than I want a player going down the tubes because he's demotivated. So – £50m is grand money for a player over which we've had some recurring question marks over and moves the risk from us to City. Invest it in a couple of sure things at the back who can boss a defence for the next few years and move on, the time is right.

I always thought he could have headed away, the long through ball against Spurs, that let in Ali, to score. It was if he thought, it's over me, so Tim, should come and catch this, which maybe a more dominant keeper might have done.

Don't want to lose Stones, and will wish the kid well if he does leave. Remember it's only a lot of Money if we spend it wisely.

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle - when he's on song striding up the pitch it's an absolute joy to watch, when he's sat on his backside after taking a slip trying to do something a bit fancy, not so much. I think he'll gravitate more to being the player we've all seen he can be in the end, he's just got some catching up to do having gone backwards over the last 18 months.

Again sadly, as a club we have been as guilty as anyone at getting excited too quickly over reputation and hope ,rather than proven and consistent ability on the field in a blue shirt - and for more than the first few games.

Anyway - Unknown Senagalese supporters wouldn' t fall into this category - arthritic or not.

To all those who appear to think that bringing the ball out of defense is so important may I remind you that Leicester City had Huth and Morgan. Hardly the most gifted defenders skill wise yet they only conceded 36 goals. Yet us with Jags, Stones, and Runes Mori managed to concede 55. And they scored more than our guys did as well. I know which defenders I would have preferred.

All I want is CB's who can head a ball, score the odd goal, and kick the ball into road Z if they need to. I'll leave it to the midfield players to start the attacks. That's what they are there for.

If we are buying Koulibaly then get him in before letting Stones leave.

We sell and loan out too quickly!

Kind of puts into sharp focus the growing concern registered by a similar number of people who are beginning to detect that not much is changing at the top of Everton. We are still selling to spend. We are still saying goodbye to our best players as they have to go to a bigger club. Inbound transfers if indeed they are happening are a complete dogs dinner...if they are not happening we still have the club acting in a way that allows rumours to propagate, as it adds to the rather flimsy veneer that we are actively in the market. Dark arts of our PR are still here.

Optimism waning by the day.

One thinks of the line from that great film Shawshank Redemption " it's the hope that kills you"

The comments Guardiola made - which can be read on the BBC website - explain why Stones is so sought after; he can take pressure off the midfielders and attackers by bringing the ball out of defence and finding them in pockets of space in the opposition half. Most top-level central defenders can head the ball, track runners, tackle, jockey, intercept passes etc - but Stones is in a minority when it comes to what he can offer in possession of the ball. And for a team like Man City - or a Real Madrid, Barcelona etc - who expect to have more possession, and want their creative players to have time on the ball in advanced areas, John Stones is easily worth the money.

I'm not of the opinion that we should sell anyone who wants to move on. The loyalty question is a strange one in modern-day football; if a so-called bigger club were making consistent overtures for any of our players (especially in the last 12 months when we've been poor) then I'd expect many of them would want to leave. For us fans the idea of playing for Everton is the ultimate footballing dream; unfortunately for our squad it is the here and now, and not necessarily their ultimate destination. I hope Koeman can convince Stones to stay for one more year, and want to be here, but if not then I hope he spends the money wisely.

I've looked carefully at my post again and , as I thought, I for one, have never suggested that carrying the ball out of the defence comfortably was the 'be all and end all '- although having a natural ability/confidence to do it , but more importantly being coached well in understanding when to do it, and when not, is a wonderful asset to any team aspiring to be a cut above the norm.

I happen to think young Stonesy has what it takes in most areas of the defender's ( including defensive midfielder's ) game. He just needed a manager/ coaching regime to understand that - as they are paid top dollar to do.

I've heard on the grapevine that Pep Guardiola may know a bit about football and managing great talent. I've even heard he's half good at spotting potential when he sees it.However, I'm not sure I believe the rumour that he has a track record of building top European sides with enviable trophy success rates playing great football - time will tell.

I, for one would happily bow to his judgement, and stand by my belief that we have lost a great talent.

Time will tell.

I'd bet a shiny new pound that we spend less than we bring in.

Am I being negative? Hard not to be.

As far as signings are concered, I think we are going to have to be patient once more.
Yes I'm fed up with being patient too, but I think we have to give Koeman time to 'get his feet under the table' so to speak.

We had an extra season out of him last season and all he did was make mistakes that cost us points and get the crowds back up.

He's not that good. He'll do the same as all the English wannabe's that went to city have done. Fold under the pressure. We are not expected to win anything but they are. He's another Sterling, Rodwell, Richards, etc, waiting to happen. If he starts making the same rickets for them as he did for us he'll be dropped and replaced because they have the money and the manager to do it.

Jose has paid a fortune for a central defender who is Stones's age and the first thing he said was "he was miles from the finished article". Why? Because he knows and understands the game, yet people constantly attack a unique talent because, like Jagielka, Funes Mori, Baines and Coleman he didn't have a fucking Scooby what Martinez was talking about. Martinez stifled Stones.

The goalkeeper, Jagielka and Funes Mori can't head a ball out either, we need a goalkeeper (we might have one) and two no-nonsense centre halves who can defend first, play football second.

I watched Italy in the Euros and their centre-halves are the blueprint for any team: Defend! Defend!! Defend!!!

As for centre-backs, they have signed at least 3 now that have sucked, considering what was paid.

If I was Stones, I wouldn't want to go.

But his agent needs a new car, so ...

For me, the majority of goals and penalties came from two significant flaws from Martinez.

One was the insistence of the defenders keeping almost at any cost the ball but without a decent midfield option, or at least an option of turning and playing it forward without knowing it's probably coming back and you will be out of position because of where you have had the ball.

Secondly, the set-up being that having the two deep midfielders will get you out of trouble with full backs beyond the opposition when you lose the ball. McCarthy hasn't got the positional sense and Barry could only last 55 mins before getting booked and legs going.

I'm not for a moment absolving Stones of any blame but many times it was too long dithering until it was 3 on 3. It took a season to figure it out but once they did the opposition were on easy street and Stones usually took the flak.

If he really wants to go, he's going to go. We need at least one replacement for him. Best of luck, John.

If he'd been through the academy, ala Rooney, this would feel a lot worse, but like a few others have said it would have been good for us to have seen him in a more defensively sound unit (which we will be) and then check his defensive qualities.

On the ball it's hard to recall anyone (English) so capable/willing to go forward from deep. Maybe he will eventually find his position is in deep midfield.

But as Ian Faith (Spinal Tap band manager) would say "money talks bullshit walks".

Good luck to him if he walks and good luck to us in finding decent replacement(s).

I'd love to keep him - but £50M or £42 as others have pointed out - is good bank, if he has to go.

If he's going then he's going, I'm now more concerned about who we are going to replace him with.

I've been very impressed with Holgate - very talented and very, very similar to Stones but also very raw.

Likely to go out on loan and play games covering RB for a season or two.

Galloway - again very composed and talented, but very much still a work in progress.

Pennington - I personally don't see having a long-term future with the club and see him at Championship level (jmo).

Singings - one name that we definitely doesn't seem out of reach unlike Koubilly is Van Dirk.

Van Dirk is very similar in attributes - and a player I'd love to have replace Stones, if/when he's gone.

I doubt Van Dirk would cost even half of what Stones goes for, even if we end up paying a lot more than market value.

If we can't find another quality replacement elsewhere, Koeman may just have to risk upsetting Southampton to go and get him.

Who knows what other gems Walsh or Koeman may have up their sleeve.

Keeps changing Koeman to Foeman as well

I'm not sure that City will offer the same but I hope he does go on to fulfil himself because he's a sight to see when in full flow.

More importantly, I think we'll get more than £50m and I trust Koeman and Walsh to use it wisely. Also, let's not overlook young Holgate who I think is another major prospect. I hear good things about Foulds as well, so there's reason to be cheerful.

So when I see prices of £50m+ bandied around, don't expect me to shed any tears because I've no interest in seeing these players make their mistakes on our watch and cost us trophies, which is what happened last season and then get told I am small minded because they might one day be world beaters.

To be fair though we are blessed with a lot of very good central defenders.

I for one will miss him and it will eat me to see him flying in another clubs colours!

Stones is young English and talented, we can demand anything we like.

City are loaded and desperate for Stones, if they paid £50m for Sterling then they will pay us the extra for Stones.

We are in the driving seat, Stones wont go rouge, he has 3 years left on his deal, and if city want a player enough to pay £46m then they will pay us the difference.

Forget a compromise, just do what Levy does at Spurs, stick to your guns.

After all is said and done, I'd happily keep Stones, but if we are to lose him then this huge fee will make it less painful to accept.

Witsel and Robbie Brady heavy odds on to join us and Stones odds on to go to City.

No mention of Koulibaly.

IMO it will only cause unrest in the dressing room.

I would tell Stones and City that they have 7 days to complete the deal at our asking price which will give us the opportunity to get someone in.

Well if your paid as well as these guys for your craft, then you bloody well should be comfortable with the ball.

Ridiculous statement in the current game and I can't see Koeman accepting anything less.

He may or may not work out for city but he 100% won't work out for Everton, plus he desperately wants to leave anyway.

He was crap last season, let Man City have the problem of putting some bottle into him. The derby certainly showed he's made of glass. I certainly don't want him in our starting 11 come August.

People are very quick to ignore/forget the fact the guy wants to leave us. Fuck him, don't want anyone who doesn't want to stay with us.

Let's see how he does coming from the 3-horse league he made his name in and the 1-horse league he just left, into a 38-game slugfest he hasn't experienced before.

I thought he was shocking defensively last season – midfield, right back, centre back.

I agree that loyalty and the entrance fee give supporters the right to express themselves, but still feel the abuse Stones got at times was an over-reaction and detrimental to both the player and the team.

We will regret selling him – not that we shouldn't as he clearly wants to go and I don't think you can deny any player if their wish is to work under one of the best club managers in the business... but we will look at him in two or three seasons and think "did we only get £50m for him?"

Yes, he struggled for long periods last season, lost confidence and made a number of costly mistakes, but so did damn near everyone else in that side. With Stones though, the howls of derision became like the banjo duelling bridge boys from Deliverance trying to outdo each other, getting louder and louder and gathering ferocious pace with people seemingly desperate to knock him down a peg or two for his perceived 'cockiness'.

Since his first pre-season with the club he's been getting by on instinct and natural talent alone. Sure, that will take you so far but, especially with young players of limited experience, it isn't necessarily enough to negate a lack of clear instruction and guidance.

He never had a manager here concerned about ironing out the creases in his game or preaching defensive solidity. He was basically told to just carry on doing what he was doing and left to figure it out for himself.

He's never had a defensive partner capable of complimenting his style (a physically strong, aerially dominant centre-half being the obvious type to team with a more elegant, slightly built, ball playing sort) or an experienced, cool headed senior pro alongside him to organise, cajole and talk him through games. More often than not he was teaming up with Jagielka who, despite his last ditch tackling ability, willingness to dive in and status as club captain, is a mute panic merchant lacking in any leadership ability at all and a long way from being strong in the air himself.

It's little wonder Stones progress stalled and he found himself unsure how to best drag himself out of the first downturn in fortune he'd suffered in his short career thus far.

If he does end up with City then they'll have got themselves a damn fine young player, one who I'd expect to flourish, regain confidence and fine tune his game under the more assured guidance of Guardiola and an actual captain in Kompany.

Given the current market, if he at least performs better than last season, a player of his ilk will only continue to rise in value.

I agree that we will only regret how we let him go.

And if we are, we should only sell after buying our players.

When other clubs know that we have made so much off a player, every player they sell to us will be inflated by another 20% or more.

So, buy first before selling, if needed.

If not, I am happy that he stays because he can be help to really kickstart our rise back up.

In a team where the average player is better than most. The best thing from the situation is to use the money well.

First of all I'm a relatively recent, since 1999, Evertonian from Boston, across the pond.

The comparison I present is Rooney "vs" Stones.

Rooney, an Evertonian since birth; Stones a recent (2013) transfer from Barnsley. At the time, in 2004, I was torn between selling or keeping Wayne. I came to the conclusion (with all due respect to my adopted side) Rooney's talents were being "wasted" remaining at Everton, I hated to admit. He was outstanding whilst with the England side amongst quality players and didn't quite reach that level with our Blues, realistically, again I hated to admit.

At the time, I felt in order to reach his potential, he had to move to Man Utd. I'm sure it was probably as difficult for Wayne as it was for his fellow Evertonians.

John Stones, on the other hand, transferred to Everton in 2013 for a better personal and professional opportunity with us. You really can't blame him.

Rooney has Blue blood, John Stones does not. Stones, understandably has his future in mind (again, you can't blame him) with no real ties to Everton.

Bottom line: if he doesn't want to be here, sell him and max out the compensation. He has potential but, by the same token, there are plenty of fish in the sea. We may miss him but he probably won't miss us.

“There was movement at the Toffee Factory, for the word had passed around

That the colt from old Jags had got away,

And had joined the wild Big Clubs - he was worth a thousand pound,

So all the cracks had gathered to the fray.

All the tried and noted Players from the stations near and far

Had mustered at the Factory overnight,

For the Toffee-men love hard Playing where the wild bush horses are,

And the stockhorse snuffs the battle with delight.”

Keep the FAITH.

It's clear to me now. Stones is NOT a CB. He's a midfielder. He's been played out of position his entire career.

We also make Man City stronger and us weaker (Man Utd knocked us out of FA Cup semi-final with Rooney and Fellaini in their team).

A good enough replacement like Koulibaly will cost £38m and he is older, and will turn us down anyway. If he was better than Stones, then Man City would buy him instead.

If we really want to win trophies, we should want to keep our best players. I can't understand fans wanting to sell our best players at any price. He wants to go? Yes! And so does every EFC player given half a chance

As a business, I understand we must sell once a player refuses to sign a contract extension; but ONLY if he reaches the last 2 years of his contract. Up until that point, I wouldn't sell any top player as they are only increasing in value and giving you a better chance of winning football matches. Ferdinand cost £30m 15 years ago, transfer prices have more than trebled since then.

Stones's defending is excellent: blocks, interceptions, quick feet and he times a tackle well. He will get stronger in the air and under Koeman he would not be allowed to take stupid unnecessary risks with the ball.

I believe he's only as good as a decent Italian or Spanish defender on the ball but his defending is excellent. That's the real reason Mourinhio wanted him. And once he realizes this and has a strict manager, he could be another John Terry (who was very underrated technically).

So, whilst he's no Ferdinand, he's still definitely better than Luiz. Therefore, why not sell him next summer for £60m instead? When he has 2 years left.

He may even sign a new deal with us next when we finish above Man City!

Lukaku
Milik
Mata Deulofeu
Barkley Witsel
Baines Funes Mori Stones Coleman
Begovic

How can any Evertonian not want to see this team with Mirallas, Jagielka and Barry on the bench, playing big roles during the season?

Ask for this team rather than a poxy £50m that will dissolve into our bullshit £100m spend.

1. I would like to keep him...but we've already hung on to him for one extra season and its time to let him leave if he wants to.

2. He's not a midfielder yes he has some of the attributes, ie, close control and can pick a pass – but I see no evidence that he has the motor or positional sense or the skill in making killer passes at the edge of the box where the space is much tighter than in defence.

3. £50m is good value, even in the current market for a player that last season was not in our starting XI.

4. In theory we could get a couple of very good replacements with the money (which we need to do). But in practice that can be quite tricky to pull of as we are finding out.

5. If we are going to sell him... better sooner than later.

6. Hopefully we have the next John Stones in our superb group of young defenders.

Hat tip to David Moyes for signing him.

Good luck, Stonesy. Hope Citeh crash and burn.

I think right now, this is the best deal possible for the club, not just the squad,because a new stadium costs money and this is where Moshiri will make a return on his investment. I don't see him spending endless millions on players when there are currently talks around a new stadium.

Moshiri isn't a oil sheik with billions of pounds just sitting around the place. The club isn't a plaything to him. If the sale of one player will hand the manager £30m plus for a transfer kitty, this will make sense to Moshiri. He appears to be the person in charge of signing the cheques right now.

All the best, Stonesy, I hope you go on to build a first class career and eventually captain the national side.

Feel absolutely no animosity towards the lad, it's a reality cheque (boom...) for the rest of us.

He cannot head a ball, his positional sense is zero and his defending from set pieces is a joke. Oh yes ,his movement on the ball out of defence is impressive but first you have to defend.

The number of fans who wax lyrical about him and keep telling us what a great centre half he is obviously didn't watch him much last season.

Paul Merson (YouTube ) said everything that needed to be said about him. I would be shitting my pants until we got the £50+ million for him, in case Man City come to their senses.

I like Stones and hope he does fulfil his potential, but if City are offering £50m for a centre-back with potential when we desperately need one who can defend then we would be fools to hold on to him on the off chance he's the next Beckenbauer. Get Koulibaly (or equivalent) in and still have change left over. We can then put the reported £100m on a keeper, midfielder & left winger.

Perhaps the same could happen if paired with Koulibaliy under Koeman

If he's desperate to leave then let him go for the right price.

I think the likes of Rodwell needed a move away from the limelight. The move to Sunderland from City should have been a big help to him as he was still young enough to lean and develop. For some reason, it just hasn't worked out. I know injuries haven't helped but with some players, they never have the brain or drive to really make the most out of their talent.

Rodwell played a lot of games last season and maybe the injuries are behind him. With Moyes now his manager again, maybe things will come good for him next season. I may just keep half an eye on him out of curiosity.

It's happened before and will happen again – the one constant is the club. We sell him, we move on... like we and every other club do.

I can't fathom the log jam with getting players in – Moshiri money, Koeman appeal and reputation... not saying we should have them queuing down Goodison Road to sign but... just a reserve keeper with just over 2 weeks to go? Was not just the 11th spot – was the gulf in points that needs to be addressed if we are to climb the table.

Stones struggles to get in the Everton team ahead of Jags and Funes Mori, ffs! £50 million, bite their hand off. Once he plays against big direct centre-forwards who can head a ball, City will be in trouble!

So far Eric Paul is the only one who seems to recall Stones being the biggest of bottlers at Anfield (no mean feat, the other players were all in contention). For me that was a measure of the man; just plain weak.

All this talk of ball-playing brilliance is just guff really. Craig Short used to like bringing the ball out the back but nobody bangs on about it.

I'm thinking we should go 'Moneyball' and sign a couple of solid defenders with the proceeds. Team first and all that.

There is no point in getting all emotional anymore about players who leave Everton for the so called rich clubs. I for one won't be losing any sleep when he goes.

We will see how good he really is when Kompany doesn't play.

Footballers are no longer loyal and are just mercernaries, which is why the game is ruined. Only a few loyal players remain such as Jagielka, Totti, baines, etc.

Wanna argue he was just lucky he wasn't good enough to get in the England team? For god sake, sell him – he doesn't want to play for us.

Yeah I'm going to get shit over the "modern player" being mercenary and having no loyalty. Just get rid; he's only going to be a bench warmer anyway for City. If Koeman thought he was good enough, we wouldn't be having a conversation with City.

Sunderland or Stoke player in 3 years when he's earned his money sitting on the the bench. Over-rated sulky kid.

As for players coming in let's wait and see who we sign, and there will be signings, I hope we will be all pleasantly surprised, but knowing Everton fans, there will be moans no matter who we sign.

A few weeks ago he was a mistake laden, over valued, under performing, overrated player who should cost £12m max, playing for a small club who should be grateful that City will help them out of the financial shite by taking him off their hands. Koeman? Who he?

As for the season starting in app 2 weeks and no incoming transfer activity as such. Remember, whether we like it or not, the transfer window goes on til the end of August. Still plenty of time.

And if you're ever unlucky enough to be talking to a Citteh fan, a longstanding supporter who's followed them for years, ever since that Thai bloke took over, just point out that the three stars they had on their shirts denoted the three divisions they've played in since the start of the Premier League. They'll not know any different.

Have to say if there's ANY truth whatsoever in that, I'd be tearing my hair out. First we're linked with Koulibaly, who I would be more than happy to get in place of Stones, then suddenly IT'S NOT Koulibaly – it's Kone, FFS!

Stones needs to be careful though – he may only become a squad player and not play regularly. Quite a few have gone to City and disappeared off the radar.

By your logic, we refuse to selll then have a player sulking and stinking the place out and then he leaves on a free in a couple of years. Not exactly a great outcome for the club.

Take the (huge) money on offer, offload an unhappy player (who was crap last season), reinvest and move on. Club is infinitely more important than any one player will ever be.

Bored of the whole stones saga, would happily pay for his taxi to Manchester to finally bring an end to this.

When I worked in Manchester in the early 1990s the Citeh fans seemed like good lads, down to earth, loyal to their club but showing an amused scepticism about its behaviour. Their current incarnations are so entitled they could almost be kopites. As for Chelsea, a more plastic club would be hard to find.

Once you have money the fans attitude also start to change. I look forward to the time when we will not only be metaphorically rubbing shoulders with the top but barging our way through the crowds of teams at the top, upsetting, unsettling because cuddly little Everton are now established again as winners and all winners are a little bit nasty. When that day comes, our fans will be entitled too.

We'll also have to disagree about Stones himself. I think the kid is vastly overrated and if he didn't have a British passport would be 1/4 the price. He may or may not succeed at city - he'll prob get a medal or two given the rest of the squad they have but he himself I don't think will add much to them.

Just my opinion, only time will tell. In the mean time I'd rather have a real defender today than one who might turn out good in x years time.

No new signing is a sure fire thing. Which is why I don't understand those wanting to see Stones go.

That said, the pulse will be racing if he is replaced by someone established.

Carl, that's why I mentioned "the Thai bloke" as a timeline for their support. I too know older City fans who are proper lads, not the plastic variety, who appreciate what has come their way but don't necessarily love the idea of being seen as another Chelsea who, let's be honest, are the club everyone dislikes now, especially according to the results of that poll last week.

Actually if you had crap midfielders there's no point have a passing CB - he should just lump it forward and bypass midfield and hope a lucky bounce or deflection leads to a scoring chance - its how it used to be in the Div 1 - just watch games in the 70s on YouTube.

All I am reading is the usual shite in the media, which is all bullshit anyway.

Or have I missed something?

We don't deserve any success, if this happens. Do everything to keep the lad and build a dream team around him. Selling him makes no sense at all.

Anyway, even two CB's for £20m a pop would be unbelievable business and would strengthen the squad no end. Hopefully they've been identified

Don't be surprised though to see a much improved John Stones in a City shirt and you can put most of the blame squarely on Bobby brown shoes shoulders for that.

I am also starting to get a little nervous about our transfer kitty as it is looking that we need the Stones transfer to kick start our own deals.
What happened to the £100m war chest?

John Stones and Everton Football Club are not immune to that (see LFC and Suarez, MUFC and Ronaldo, Spurs and Bale).

If the lad really does want to leave, and has so for a year or two, its about negotiating the best deal for the club - or would you prefer he run down his contract, run down his value and run down morale in the team?

It's naive to say we should keep our best players. I know we have the money, but we're still at least 4/5 years behind City with their investment/level of player recruitment, and that's a little optimistic.

Get someone in to replace him with Prem experience. Van Dijk would be my first choice. Was excellent last year, played better than Stones and still young enough to improve. Players like Shawcross or Williams as a short term fill isn't a bad idea either.

It's a bit concerning that we haven't signed anyone yet, but Walsh has only come in last week, hopefully the signings will come.

For us this move makes sense. Our £100 million transfer budget suddenly doesnt look so big with spiralling fees. Koeman can bring in two dependable defenders for that fee who can defend, have good positional sense and both judgement and experience. Under his system, I think he will want the defenders to send the balls down the channels or pass it to midfielders.

That allows us to focus the £100 million on the rest lf the team. For the lad himself, I wish him well but fear for his development at City. I think he will get found out actually.

Good luck to him and hope it works out well at City.

Stones has wanted to go for 12 months plus. We can't keep hold of him forever. Despite wanting to go last year, he got his head down an played. Not suggesting he is a modern day hero for this, he was still getting paid massive money and playing at a good level; I do think that not allowing him to go now though would be a little unfair, unlike with Lukaku whose exploits make me have little sympathy.

50m is a good price. I do think he is worth it and I do think he will become England captain in the medium term future. At centre half as well. If he does go I for one wish him the best of luck and hope he gets a decent reception on his return from the majority.

He's only 22 though, and has plenty of time to develop - with that in mind £50m for a 22yr old we only paid £3m for ..if that's not good business, I'm afraid you've lost me.

There are plenty of centre halves out there that can do a job for us, and John Stones alone isn't going to be able to do the job of a back 3 or 4 anyway - every player is only a sum of the parts of a team, and if there's one thing we've lacked the last 2 years, it's a team.

Koeman is here to build a team, and part of that team building is restructuring - we all knew Stones wanted out, and good luck to the kid.

Stones is class, but completely replaceable. In fact, with everybody fit, he's not necessarily in our current best XI. I want to keep him, I want him to develop, play for England and win trophies for us, but if I can't have that then £50m to spend on someone who can be more effective than him in winning football matches is a reasonable second choice.

Sure, no-one wants to lose a good player, but Bale, Ronaldo and Suarez all left 'destination' clubs. It doesn't have to be symbolic of the entire status of your club, it's one young lad making a decision in his own self-interest, accept it and move on.

Is it not the norm for a player looking very likely to move within the next week to be left out of any preseason game or tournament for fear of him getting injured?

Is it at all possible that all the paper talk could just be bullshit because Stones is in the squad for the Dresden Cup, and played a half hour against MK Dons.

Maybe Koeman doesn't see a ball playing centreback as being intrinsic to his principles, it is a luxury rather than a necessity after all, and he's already mentioned distributing from the full backs rather than knocking around between the defence and the midfield like Roberto insisted on.

How a top-class central defender can be a luxury player - whatever that is - isn't clear to me.

My 20 pound bet with a kopite to finish above them is currently looking like a poor investment :-(

He could go on to be one of the best, or if his form dips and a few errors creep in, he could be benched and confidence shattered.

He is taking a big risk going to city, at Everton he could have learned from one of the best defenders in Ronnie, good luck whichever path he chooses, £50 million is crazy.

On a final note, if I had to choose from a Jagielka a few seasons ago in his prime, or Stones, I would choose Jagielka every day of the week, no nonsense defending or farting around with Jags, he would put his body on the line to stop a shot, and put in row z instead of being caught with the ball.

Jagielka knocked Arsenal back years ago and stuck with Everton, it will be a sad day when Jags hangs his boots up, enjoy Jags while we can, as for Stones, thanks for everything, if your hearts not with Everton then go, no player is bigger than Everton.

To me there's no contradiction and no trade-off here. He is an excellent player with a cool head, good distribution and he is a leader. He was badly mismanaged by Martinez and will be a great loss to the team. It is instructive that Mourinho and Guardiola are prepared to pay mega-bucks for this "luxury player".

I like seeing good players at Everton, cheques with lots of zeros only excite me when put into my bank account.

But high quality defenders, and he is one, are not easily replaced.

Those saying jags is better are on another planet. Jags is a decent Europa League level defender. Not quite tall, quick or strong enough to truly dominate a striker. Not skilful enough to build an attack from the back. Has good timing when tackling. But stones is a rolls royce, and sometimes the money received just ain't worth it.

He wants to go so we have to sell. But i'my not at all happy about it.

Jagielka and Stones, properly managed, would be a marvellous combination.

Jags has done a fantastic job for Everton, I stick by if I had to choose between 8 seasons of Jags in his prime, I would choose Jags, thats just my opinion, others will disagree, but the planet I am on is the one who has watched Jagielka in an Everton shirt and he would be my first choice centre half every day of the week had he had age on his side.

Again Jags will be a big loss once his career ends, but what a fantastic servent he has been for Everton.

Those criticising Jags are basing it on the last 2 season of Martinez misery.

Jags when fit and firing on all cylinders is as good as any CB in the prem which is why he got so many caps for England despite being at an unfashionable club.

Unfortunately time waits for no man and injuries are starting to tell.

Napoli’s sporting director Guiseppe Cannella has confirmed that the club has received bids from 2 Premier League teams for star defender Kalidou Koulibaly, but confirmed that the most concrete offer is from Everton.

Cannella seemed to hint that the big Senegal defender is on his way out the club by saying he doesn’t think he would be able to concentrate on playing in Serie A next season.

Cannella said to Radio CRC: “I do not think Koulibaly can have the right concentration to play in the same league as last year, if he was to stay. There are two important offers from the Premier. With Koulibaly and Higuain we had to sit at the table first to discuss a renewal. Everton is the most concrete team of Koulibaly “.

Over to you Mr Walsh.

All entitled to our opinion and lots sorry to see him go but I don't remember any excellent defending. I'd rather he stayed but clearly does not want to so get rid.

As for another comment about never seeing a pile of cash head or clear the ball, neither does potential! C'mon RK, sign Witsel, Koulibaly, Mata and Mario Gomez and go light up this league. COYB!

To not be considered good enough by that hapless fool of a manager, is confirmation he will be an England captain one day.

Anyone who still believes the club aren't, at last , showing genuine ambition, surely can't have been keeping up with the news over the last few months. Steady evolution - not overnight revolution.

Forget the Cryuff turns, the overplaying instead of hitting into row Z, his positional play is piss poor, and gives himself too much to do and has had to rescue too many desperate situations.

Compared with Chiellini; now he IS a proper football playing CB, positionally perfect, snuffs out danger, OK he’s vastly more experience, but Stones will need a Himalayan learning curve to get anywhere near him.

Get a CB that can defend and strengthen in other departments with the money.

If he starts to whine then we can still sell him in January.

It would be stupid to not try to hold on to our best talented youngsters no matter what.

By the way, looks like we have Gueye and, if we get M'bodji and Koulibaly, maybe we should change our name to Senegal Blues!

I'd love Stones to stay with us and work towards becoming the world class player I believe he can be.

It all depends just how badly Stones wants to leave. He's a very respectable, down-to-earth lad so I wouldn't see him throwing a paddy if he was told he's staying put. Then again, we can't afford to carry players who are giving anything less than 100%.

Now if City were not in Germany, we could look at Stones travelling as a possible stay, somehow I think the deal will be done in Germany.

Also can't help thinking 50 mill would be remarkable considering how he's shown he's not that big on taking pressure.. ok, he's young, but City or any other so-called 'big' team in for him are hardly looking to put him in the reserves for a season or two while he 'grows up' are they?

Basically, I can't even see how that money guarantees Pep Guardiola or anyone else anything like the player they really want! He did great with the step-up, here, coming from Barnsley (my birth-town, though I am a Toffee 100%, incidentally!) but that was under relative 'cover', not initially too spotlighted or expected to be part of a trophy-challenging team (sadly, and as per the media!).. different scenario, now, though...

Anyway, good luck to him, maybe Pep's style of play will bring out the best of him, but he really has been totally spoiled already for us, I reckon!.. so lets send him on, wish him well while we take the wad of readies to get a replacement (++?).. then run him ragged next time we come against him and his new outfit!!! COYBs!!!!!!!

Did we? What I saw was a player, a defence, a team that didn't know whether it was coming or going because of criminal mismanagement. If Stones stays then we will see an excellent player under Koeman.

Below average... get rid and buy a good defender. He won't make it, he's average. End of.

The lad is class, on and off the field, so give him a break and support him while he's still a Blue.

22 years old. Three years experience of playing in the Premier League. Full International. Multi-millionaire. Subject of £40m-£50m transfer bids. Chased by (what are considered by many to be) the top two managers of recent years.

Yet, 'he'll never make it' in the game?

I despair.

Gobshite!

It's the same coordinated campaign that took Rooney to United.

That really turned England into world-beaters.

I really hope this is finally put to bed soon as it's can't be helping pre-season with Stones still being about the squad and every man and his dog knowing he'll be off soon.

Only one seller, only one buyer. Fee seems to have been agreed so wtf is the hold up?

It's the principle I suppose. These talentless parasites plying their trade for worthless untruth-mongers playing to people's prejudices.

Serenity now!

We should never have let him go...

His replacement will be on more wages, cost £38m, is older and not as good (otherwise, Man City would buy him instead).

The £12m left over will go to Barnsley, Stones's loyalty payment, and agent's fees. Maybe you're all getting a cut of the sale?

A team we will be directly competing with will be stronger thanks to us. Can someone please explain how selling Stones makes us better? Because, if it doesn't, 79% of you guys are doing John Cross's job for him. 79% of you doing Kenwright's dirty work. 79% of you mediocre lovers.

Maybe you're all getting a cut of the sale? Stones will only increase in value under Koeman.

I agree with the third of these points, although I would express it differently. Years of mental conditioning have had the expected effect: there are fans who somehow can't believe that we deserve to retain top-class players. It's called an inferiority complex and it's ironic that Man City, of all teams, are taking advantage of this.

Everton knew this was going to happen and should have told the players agents weeks ago to get early business done or fuck off. Again we are going to be scrambling looking for replacements, or buying players we don't really want, having been backed into a corner. I for one am fucking sick of this lack of planning, and EFC letting other clubs priorities take precedent before our own.