Chelsea lodge eight figure opening bid for Premier League defensive starlet

“The other side is the disappointment in seeing a football club making it (the bid for Stones) so open, I don’t think that is the way we do it at Everton”.

With a lot of money being touted, we look at which club would be ideal for the young English defender as he hopes to grow and get better. There is nothing to speak to John about.

Chelsea are believed to have first registered their interest in Stones last summer after his first full season as a Premier League player.

“I always said I’m not going to be commenting publicly on any of the names that have been shared around but I can tell you clearly that there is nothing true in that story”.

Stones looms over Olivier Giroud during the loss to Arsenal in Singapore (GETTY).

Raheem Sterling’s recent £49million move to Manchester City will likely encourage Everton to hold out for significantly more than Chelsea have offered with their exploratory opening bid.

With John Terry entering the twilight of his career, Chelsea are now in the market to sign a new central defender and manager Jose Mourinho had identified Stones as an ideal long term replacement for his captain.

Chelsea are understood to be bemused at Everton’s frustration at the timing of the bids.

Ironically, Stones revealed only last month that he wants to become a cross between Rio Ferdinand – who joined Manchester United for a then-British record £30million in 2002 – and Terry. “That is a compliment, a footballing compliment”, Martinez said. “The last few years we have been very courageous giving young players opportunities to develop and we will carry on doing that”.

Stones had started against Arsenal in the Barclays Asia Trophy final but was unable to prevent his side from falling to the Gunners at the National Stadium.