Chelsea are expected to submit a new bid of £33million to finally try and sign John Stones after the Everton defender submitted a formal transfer request.
Although Everton insist that Stones is not for sale there is a growing expectation that if the Premier League champions were to then increase their offer further to £35million – which they may be prepared to do – they might finally sign the 21-year-old.
Chelsea have so far had three offers – an initial bid of £20million, then an offer of £26million and a bid of £30million – rejected by Everton who remain adamant Stones will not be leaving.
Nevertheless, as expected, Stones has now made public his desire to go by handing in a written transfer request on Tuesday afternoon before training. He informed Everton of his desire to join Chelsea which is the signal that Jose Mourinho has been waiting for.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez has stated that a transfer request would have no effect on his club’s position but Chelsea are expected to test that resolve by submitting an improved bid in the next few days, now that Stones’ has done what he had to do.
If Chelsea offer £33million and, also, even eventually pay £35million before the transfer window closes at 6pm next Tuesday it will beat the record paid for an English defender in the Premier League which still stands at the £29.1million that Manchester United paid Leeds United for Rio Ferdinand back in 2002.
Mourinho is convinced that Stones would make an immediate impact if he was to move, with Chelsea centre-halves John Terry and Cahill both struggling in the opening three games of the season.
Terry was sent off in Sunday’s win at West Bromwich Albion and also substituted in the heavy defeat against Manchester City. Cahill started on the bench at the Hawthorns.
Everton play Stones’ former club Barnsley at Oakwell in the Capital One Cup second round on Wednesday night and it remains to be seen whether he will be involved. On Tuesday night Everton were yet to respond to the transfer request, though it is widely anticipated that it will be rejected.
Despite the ongoing speculation Stones produced a solid performance in the home defeat to Manchester City on Sunday and has been praised by Martinez for his professionalism.
Martinez also insisted he will be part of Everton’s future but Stones has taken action as he prepares to leave after two-and-a-half years.
Earlier on Tuesday Martinez said: "Once more this is always the same question about John Stones and always the same answer.
"The only things that matter now are the games and to prepare for them, starting with Barnsley. There is nothing to announce and nothing to discuss. I know it is your job to ask the questions but it is my job to answer like this."
Chelsea’s pursuit of Stones began in July and has led to a fractious relationship between the two clubs.
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