Chelsea are set to make a fourth offer for Everton defender John Stones following the youngster’s decision to issue a transfer request, according to The Sun.
The 21-year-old has matured into an excellent defensive talent over the course of his two and a half years at Goodison Park and is now a regular in Roy Hodgson’s England national team set-up.
Everton signed Stones from Barnsley in a £3m deal back in February 2013 (via BBC Sport) and is now a pivotal member of Roberto Martinez’s squad.
The Sun claim Jose Mourinho will offer £33m for the Toffees star, and the Chelsea boss will hope that such an addition will solidify his unusually leaky defence.
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Mourinho has seen his side concede seven goals in their opening three Premier League fixtures and has chopped a changed his central defensive pairing on a number of occasions.
First John Terry was hauled off at half-time during Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat at Man City and then Gary Cahill was dropped for their trip to West Brom, before being brought on due to Terry’s sending off in that fixture.
Young Frenchman Kurt Zouma has been used as a back-up defensive options but has looked a better fit in a defensive midfield role.
John Stones can play both at right-back and in a central defensive spot and could offer Chelsea a long-term solution and has been seen by some as a long term replacement for 34-year-old skipper John Terry (via Daily Star).