According to an exclusive from The Express, Chelsea will launch a £40million bid for Everton defender and Manchester United target John Stones when the transfer window opens in January.
The Blues notoriously saw three bids rejected for the England international during the summer, their last offer believed to be worth around £38million, having emerged as one of the most exciting home-grown talents in a generation since joining the Goodison Park ranks from Barnsley in January 2013.
He’s since been linked with a number of rival clubs, most particularly Arsenal, Barcelona and Manchester United, with some reports suggesting the Red Devils are preparing a huge offer for next month as well.
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But The Express claim Chelsea intend to get there first by launching a £40million bid as soon as the window officially opens on January 1st. They see the 21-year-old as an integral signing to get their campaign back on track, having slumped all the way down to 15th place in the Premier League whilst recording fifth-worst goals conceded tally throughout the division..
Chelsea feel that their sustained efforts to sign the 6 foot 2 centre-half, spread across two transfer windows, will be enough to see him snub Manchester United’s interest in favour of a move to Stamford Bridge.
But Everton remain incredibly unlikely to sell – especially with the chance of Stones’ value further soaring at next summer’s European Championship with England – and The Express claim a Blues switch in January will largely depend on how hard the youngster pushes to leave Merseyside.