Chelsea Launch £40m For John Stones, But Player Going To Manchester United Instead

The Blues are set to smash the British transfer record for a defender with a £40 million bid for the Merseyside defender who has handed the Toffees a transfer request.

The 21-year-old international has remained on the radar of several top English clubs with Manchester City withdrawing following their acquisition of Ottamendi, leaving Chelsea and Manchester United to lock horns for his signature.

It is reported that Chelsea have doubled their first offer of £20m for the player following Everton’s rejection of £30m. It is understood that the Toffees are wary of allowing the player leave following the departure of Sylvain Distin leaving Stones and Jagielka as their only centre backs. However, the player has informed Martinez that he wishes to leave and will hand Everton a transfer request of they remain unyielding.

Should Chelsea pull the deal through for £40m as per BBC Sport, Stones will become the most expensive Premier League defender in history after City’s Mangala and the second most expensive EPL player of all time after Raheem Sterlin.

Nonetheless, there are concerns that Manchester United who have remained silent on the player may just whisk him away after Chelsea must have passed through the rigours of convincing the Toffees to allow the player leave. United are keen on reinforcing that centre back position and will have given Chelsea a dose of their medicine if they can sign Stones as with Pedro’s deal.