http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/premierleague/article4537224.ece
John Stones may seek to force move
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Everton are adamant that Stones is not for sale despite the player’s hankering for a Chelsea move Nigel French/PA
Oliver Kay
Last updated at 12:01AM, August 25 2015
John Stones is weighing up whether to submit a formal transfer request as he looks to persuade Everton to relent over a potential move to Chelsea.
The England defender informed Roberto Martínez, the Everton manager, last week that he wishes to join Chelsea if possible, but the Merseyside club have maintained a firm stance that he is not for sale. Stones is now contemplating whether to go a step further by officially requesting a transfer, even though Martínez has stated publicly that such a move would make no difference.
Chelsea have had three bids for Stones rejected since mid-July, the latest of them for £30 million last week. The London club have begun to look at alternatives in case Everton refuse to back down, but a fourth bid is expected regardless of whether Stones officially requests a move.
Everton remain vehemently opposed to selling Stones. Jon Woods, the director, was filmed during the 2-0 defeat by Manchester City on Sunday telling a supporter at Goodison Park that neither he nor Bill Kenwright, the chairman, would sell the player. That stance was reinforced last night by another figure at Everton, who said that they are “truly determined” to keep Stones.
The situation is a difficult one for Stones, for whom a move to Chelsea — with a view to competing for a first-team place immediately and to forging a long-term central-defensive partnership with Kurt Zouma — holds an obvious appeal. It has always been Stones’s intention not to force the issue, out of respect for Martínez and the club, but that principle is being tested now that Everton seem fiercely committed to blocking the move. Leighton Baines went through a similar dilemma two seasons ago, amid interest from Manchester United, and ultimately decided not to ask for a transfer.
Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool and England defender, said on TalkSPORT last night that Stones should stay at Everton. “Every player should want to play at the highest level and win trophies, play in the Champions League and play for his country,” Carragher said. “That’s the aim of every player. It’s just [a question of] what is the right time for the player to go — and I think the right thing for John Stones would be to play for another couple of years at Everton.
“He’s playing really well, but you have ups and downs as a young player, especially as a defender, where you can make a couple of mistakes, give away a penalty, and your confidence goes. That’s part of being a defender and learning your trade. I think it would be better for him to know he’s almost guaranteed to play week in, week out for Everton, go through those times with Everton, and then when he eventually gets his move to a top English club, as he will do, he’ll be going there a bit more experienced, a better player, and a bit more mature in his game.”
If Stones does move, then Barnsley, his former club, will be entitled to a significant cut — believed to be 15 per cent — of any transfer fee under the terms of the deal they agreed when selling him to Everton in January 2013. Although a fee of £3 million has been widely quoted in the original transfer, Barnsley only received an initial fee of £1.25 million, with additional payments contingent on his success at Goodison Park and any future sale.
Tom Cleverley, the Everton midfield player, likened Stones yesterday to Rio Ferdinand, the former Manchester United and England defender. “He is just a Rolls-Royce at the back really,” Cleverley said. “He’s so calm and composed and first and foremost he’s a great defender. He does all the basics right. He’s a very, very talented player. If you had to liken him someone, he’s probably like Rio — very quick, calm on the ball and you trust him.”