Given our stance do you think it likely that we were the ones who notified the media?
In terms of who and why
Say Chelsea leaks it: they can turn the players head by letting him know their is interest and hopefully get him to submit a TR, but a TR is easily rejected and it also opens the door to MUFC placing bids because they need a CB even worse, have equal or more funding and correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Stones support them as a kid? So I see the benefits being matched or even outweighed by the negatives, and especially so if you consider the potential ill will it old create between clubs who had been developing a pretty good relationship regarding transfers and loans. Not saying not possible but if someone at CFC did do so, they certainly acted foolishly and didn't fully consider the consequences. Perhaps my view is shaded by a Chelsea blue lens.
Say EFC leaks it: Create a bidding war, help brace fans for a potential departure OR show fans that the club is standing firm in terms of holding him despite the huge interest. Create goodwill with the fans from a board that really seems to need it or limit backlash from fans while increasing your chances of getting money. Though if Everton leaked the bid, it would of made more sense for them to approach Barnsley before the leak regarding buying out the sell on clause. Kind of weakens their hand when Barnsley knows the huge sums being offered
Stones and his agent: try and force a move or get a bigger salary and staying. Yet they would only know if Everton had a clause requiring them to inform Stones of any transfer offers from certain clubs or if CFC let them know directly.
My personal opinion is that I don't know but have a feeling that some mid to low level employee at one of the clubs probably sold the information to a person, and that this was not sanctioned. It just seems odd, given the business between clubs last season, that one or the other would intentionally sabotage that relationship. In fact I would be mighty curious to know if any employees of either club have been dismissed who may of been privy to such information. That said, please don't mind my tin foil hat.
Mate there's no IF about it, they did and anyone who's followed this whole shabby affair can not think otherwise, but that's not why I'm replying to you, surely you and every genuine football fan ( and you come across as one ) of every team should take heart in the stance we have taken over Stones and WBA have over Berahino. It's in the best interest of all teams that we have a strong league and by that I don't mean a strong four team league, There's rumours that Costa is wanting to return to Spain ( not sure how true ), now if Mourinho is adamant he wants to keep him and takes the same stance as Martinez I'm sure you will be praising him to high heaven. Just hope mate your owner doesn't ( this goes for Man city too) up sticks and decides he's had enough of his play thing.
I guess the difference is that CFC can offer tangible more to Stones than EFC can compared to the difference of what Madrid or Barca could offer Costa or Hazard.
That aside, let me tell you that I am 99% sure and resigned to the fact that Hazard will likely be in a Real Madrid shirt when Ronaldo retires, if not sooner.
That doesn't mean you should or have to sell Stones now though. You've got him on a contract, you've put in the time and taken the risk of developing him further, and there is no reason to sell someone integral to your plans until it becomes an offer you can't refuse. You probably wouldn't of been able to hold out without the new league tv deals but good for that and a reason why the BPL > LA Liga for me. Chelsea, pre-Roman, have been in this situation before and not been able to show the resilience EFC has in this saga. It sucked, and as I've always liked Everton as a kind of second BPL club, I'm somewhat glad to see times and tables have changed ( I also hated FFP despite knowing how good it would be for CFC now we are situated as a competitively elite club. It's not fair and runs counter to sportsmanship in my mind. Either no restrictions or an equal wage cap for all clubs. Why shouldn't another club get to experience what us and city have?)
And yes I would praise Mourinho/board just as you should praise Martinez/board if Stones is a Toffee come October or gets a massive fee and actually reinvests it prudently.
Someone asked something about Roman possible leaving and to that I would say he is too invested emotionally and financially. He goes to every home game, he isn't even close to bored. Yet if he did so, he would be selling CFC to someone else who obviously is mega loaded and obviously willing to spend cash. It might make us less influential in transfers but it's long past a situation of us becoming a Leeds or a Portsmouth in my opinion. City I don't know because their owner clearly isn't as passionate in terms of attending and their owner could just walk away not caring such is his wealth compared to Roman.... but I doubt it for them too.
Also apologize in advance for poor grammar, spelling and the like. The auto spell on this device is dreadful and frequently changes correctly spelt word to complete nonsense...and I'm not good at it....
