Premier League champions ready to make third bid for 21-year-old defender
Everton are growing increasingly concerned that they will fail to stop John Stones joining Chelsea, despite manager Roberto Martinez’s insistence that the central defender is not for sale.
Chelsea are preparing a third bid of around £30 million for Stones, despite Martinez repeating his desire to keep the 21-year-old at Goodison Park.
While Martinez is demonstrating a brave front, Everton insiders fear that the club will ultimately be forced to let Stones move to Stamford Bridge once Chelsea go over the £30 million mark.
Roberto Martínez (right), the Everton manager, is keen on keeping the 21-year-old
Everton are already closing in on one senior central defender to join the club, with Manchester United’s Jonny Evans, Celtic’s Virgil van Dijk and Swansea City’s Ashley Williams all among their targets.
It is also understood that Everton are looking at younger options, as they attempt to plan for the possibility of Stones leaving.
Stones is wanted by Chelsea and Manchester United
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho last week refused to discuss his bid for Stones, despite previously expressing his admiration for the player. The Premier League champions have failed with offers of £20 million and £26 million, but remain hopeful a deal worth up to £34 million can be agreed.
As revealed by Telegraph Sport, talks are thought to have been held between Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck and his Everton counterpart Bill Kenwright about avoiding any more public spats over the matter.
Stones is more likely to get first-team football at United, according to Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand has told Stones that he should join his former club Manchester United, but that will not have any bearing on the player or Chelsea’s bid.
Contrary to Ferdinand’s claim that Stones would spend his time sitting on the substitutes’ bench at Stamford Bridge, the Blues have a clear career plan for the England international.
Stones has impressed both the champions and Manchester United
Should they succeed in their bid, then Chelsea will give Stones encouragement that he would make at least 30 appearances this season with the view to eventually succeeding captain John Terry.
Chelsea have already displayed their faith in Stones by making him their one big transfer target of the summer and believe he could be a key player for the next decade.
While Chelsea continue to track Stones, they are also hoping to finalise a deal to sign Augsburg left-back Baba Rahman.
Rahman is keen to move to Stamford Bridge as soon as possible, with Chelsea just needing to agree a fee with Augsburg for the £12 million-rated 21-year-old.
Should the Rahman deal fall apart, then Tottenham Hotspur will reject any approach from Chelsea for Danny Rose.
Mourinho celebrates winning the title with Abramovich in 2005
Mourinho added another title to his collection last season
Chelsea news: My rows with Roman Abramovich are over, says Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho won the league in both his first two seasons, only to fall out with the Russian owner and leave Chelsea in September 2007
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has insisted his previous disagreements with owner Roman Abramovich are over and he is ready to fight for his fourth Premier League title starting this weekend.
In his first spell at the club, starting in 2004, Mourinho won the league in both his first two seasons, only to fall out with the Russian owner and leave in September 2007.
He returned two years ago, finishing third in his first season and then winning the title again in May.
Mourinho celebrates winning the title with Abramovich in 2005
"In my first period, my personal relationship (with Abramovich) was very good (but) professionally we had some interferences and a bit of a disagreement with some ideas," Mourinho said.
"In this moment we don't have this problem. When I left Real Madrid to come here, Mr Abramovich asked me to fight for titles.
"In my first season we were almost there, in my second season we did it and in my third season if you are close, you can always do it."
Mourinho added another title to his collection last season
Chelsea are aiming to become the first team to retain the title since Manchester United in 2009 and Mourinho believes it will be the usual clubs challenging them.
"The top five are the top five, and why not a club like Tottenham to get in there?" he said.
"But in the end history plays a part and investment plays a part.
"Chelsea (were) four times champion in the last decade. Arsenal are a fantastic club with great players. Liverpool have amazing investment.
"Man City is a squad to love and a club with two Premier Leagues in the last four or five years. And Man United with everything - the history, the players, the investment. So everybody will be there."
The champions begin their title defence with a home game against Swansea City on Saturday and their first away game is against Manchester City, last season's runners-up, on Sunday week.
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