Chelsea DESPERATE to sign Manchester United target, will IMPROVE £25m offer

Chelsea are desperate to sign Everton star John Stones ahead of Manchester United, respected journalist Darren Lewis has told talkSPORT.

The Stamford Bridge outfit have already made two offers for the 21-year-old, totalling £20 million and £25 million. It is thought that they will need to offer over £30 million in order to tempt the Toffees in to selling one of their prize assets. Roberto Martinez has already made clear his desire to keep the England international at Goodison Park.

“We all know about the pursuit of John Stones. Chelsea will go back in for him – they are desperate to get that player,” Lewis said, “They like him, they think he’s very talented and he’s a long term successor to John Terry. They are convinced of possibly managing to do a deal.”

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However, the Blues will have to fight off Manchester United if they are going to get the former Barnsley man [The Guardian]. Jose Mourinho apparently sees the youngster as a successor to John Terry, but were the defender to go to Old Trafford then he would likely have a better chance of first team football in the immediate future.

During the last campaign Stones made 23 Premier League appearances, despite suffering several injuries. Were he to stay with Everton for another season he would likely be first choice, and has been urged by Arsenal legend Martin Keown to do this so that he can continue to develop [Daily Mail].