Chelsea expected to make a third bid for Stones

31/07/2015

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updated The media-fuelled John Stones saga has entered its next phase with reports claiming that Chelsea are preparing a third – and possibly final – bid for John Stones, while both Manchester clubs have supposedly entered the running for Everton's prized defender.

Having had a second bid of £26m turned down by Everton, together with a second declaration from Goodison Park that Stones isn't for sale, Chelsea are reported by The Telegraph to be altering their tactics by abandoning their hitherto public tactics and resorting to Chairman Bruce Buck leveraging his relationship with Bill Kenwright to smooth a path for the 21-year-old to Stamford Bridge.

Kenwright is unlikely to be moved, even at the £30m that Evening Standard suggest will be Chelsea's ceiling, with the majority of reports asserting that Everton will start listening to offers at £34m.

That's what The Mirror claim Manchester United will bid, albeit with Jonny Evans in part exchange – essentially offering a player Roberto Martinez says he isn't after for a player he has said he won't sell.

Their local rivals City have also been thrown into the mix but that aspect of the speculation appears to be a lazy reflection of the size of the budget available to Manuel Pellegrini and his need to pad his squad with home-grown talent.

For his part, Mourinho turned uncharacteristically coy on the situation when asked by reporters today whether he was still pursuing Stones.

"No," he retorted, "I don't speak about players from other clubs, especially now when the competition starts."

He has subsequently hinted that his club will not be breaking the bank to land Stones. “The market sometimes has no rules," he said. “We, as Chelsea, we make our own rules.

“To make our own rules is to evaluate the players, and to know the players’ value, and to know when we have to stop and turn to another side, and think in another option.”

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