Chelsea to bid for Stones

According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea are eager to test Everton’s stubbornness for young English defender John Stones, and will bid for him this summer.

The newspaper reported that if the Blues’ bid for Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane failed, Stones was their next target.

Since Rafael Benitez took the reigns at the Bernabeu, the Italian has promised the young French defender the playing time he wants, so a move doesn’t look to be happening.

Given the form of John Terry and Gary Cahill, it was being suggested that the Premier League champions would leave it a year before bidding for Stones, to let him continue with his progression on Merseyside.

But, Jose Mourinho has stepped up his interest in the defender who has been tipped to become the England senior team’s captain, sooner rather than later.

If they are serious about their interest in the 21-year-old, they’ll have to put in a serious offer – Everton won’t let go for cheap.

The Toffees have slapped a £20m price tag on their defender, despite him only starting 38 Premier League matches in his career.

Chelsea News