Manchester United are interested in making a bid for Everton star John Stones this summer, reports the Daily Mail.
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The Red Devils may have some trouble prising the 21-year-old away from Goodison Park though. The Toffees tied him down to a five-year contract last summer, and are known for getting top dollar for their prized assets. The Red Devils themselves should know this, having bought Marouane Fellaini for £27.5 million from them two summers ago. This was despite the Belgian having a £23.5 million release clause that had expired a month earlier, both amounts according to the BBC.
However, it may be worth paying a high price for Stones, who has been very impressive since Roberto Martinez took over at the Merseyside club. Actually bought by former United and Blues boss David Moyes in his final transfer window at the club, the youngster had to wait until the Catalan took charge to make his debut.
Since then he has played 54 times, greatly impressing at centre-back while also showing an ability to cover on the right side if needed. United fans should know him all too well from their 3-0 loss at Goodison Park in April, when the England under 21’s star scored his first goal for the Blues.
The Red Devils are on the search for new central defenders after manager Louis van Gaal failed to settle on a regular pairing last summer. Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Jonny Evans, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind, Tyler Blackett, Paddy McNair, and even Michael Carrick were all used in the position at times last season. Due to injuries and form none were able to make the role their own though. Stones could go some way to solving this problem.