http://www.theguardian.com/football...erton-consider-40m-final-bid?CMP=share_btn_tw
Chelsea consider making final bid of £40m for Everton’s John Stones
• Third bid of £30m for England defender was rejected on Tuesday
• John Terry expected to start next match but Branislav Ivanovic under threat
Everton manager Roberto Martínez has refused to deny claims John Stones is attracted to the possibility of moving to Stamford Bridge. Photograph: JMP/REX Shutterstock
Dominic Fifield and Andy Hunter
Tuesday 18 August 2015
Chelsea are considering whether to lodge a final bid worth £40m for the Evertondefender John Stones after seeing their third offer of the summer for the England international flatly rejected by the Merseyside club.
Everton made it clear, yet again, on Tuesday that they are not interested in parting with the 21-year-old defender, who has been capped four times, and will not enter into negotiations with the champions. That resolve could yet be tested by an offer which would establish Stones as the most expensive defender in English football, though raising the bid to £40m would effectively see Chelseadoubling their original valuation of the centre-back.
The London club’s opening offer was worth £20m, with subsequent bids of £26m and, on Monday, £30m having been rejected. Roberto Martínez has refused to deny claims the player is attracted to the possibility of moving to Stamford Bridge, where he would compete in the Champions League this season, although the defender – who has four years remaining on his Everton contract – has not agitated for a move. Indeed, his form for and commitment to Martínez’s side to date this term has been exemplary.
José Mourinho, who has made no secret of his frustration at Chelsea’s lack of progress in the transfer market this summer, believes Stones would represent both a long-term asset and a player who could go straight into his first-team, particularly with two of his current senior defenders struggling.
