According to reports from The Daily Mail this afternoon, Manchester United are preparing a summer bid for Everton defender John Stones.
The 21 year-old has emerged as one of the most promising home-grown defenders in the Premier League since moving to Goodison Park from Barnsley in January 2013, earning a place on England’s stand-by list for the 2014 World Cup and a nomination for the 2014 Golden Boy award.
Now a four-cap international and proving himself a worthy partner to Phil Jagielka in the Toffees backline, Stones’ impressive form has reportedly caught the attention of the Red Devils – who have been linked to a number of centre-backs in recent months, including Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels and Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi.
But they’re not the only major English club keen on the 6 foot 2 defender, who can operate at right-back or centre-back. According to prior reports from The Daily Mail in May, he’s also a target of Premier League champions Chelsea, and Jose Mourinho confirmed his intentions to sign a new defender earlier this week – as reported by ESPN.
Their interest in Stones could lead to a costly bidding war this summer. Having penned an improved contract until 2019 in May last year, as reported by The Guardian, Everton will know they can demand a lucrative fee for the Three Lions starlet.