Chelsea Transfer News: Latest on Marquinhos and John Stones Rumours

Chelsea have been given a boost in their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos with the news that the Brazilian is becoming "unsettled" in the French capital.

The Blues failed to bolster their defence adequately over the summer as they missed out on the signing of John Stones.

According to French outlet Le 10 Sport (h/t Will Giles in Metro), the Stamford Bridge outfit also had a £30.6 million for Marquinhos rejected, but the 21-year-old is now angling for a move away from the Parc des Princes.

PSG manager Laurent Blanc seems to have his starting back four well established, and Marquinhos is not part of it—he has played just nine minutes after four Ligue 1 fixtures so far this season, per WhoScored.com.

As a result, the young defender may be allowed to leave Paris, or he could look to force a move if he continues to be starved of game time.

After a dire start to the new Premier League season it seems clear that Blues boss Jose Mourinho is not happy, and his previously invulnerable defence looks very shaky, per Bleacher Report's Graham Ruthven:

Marquinhos could be a fine addition to the Chelsea squad. He would be an ideal replacement for the wildly out-of-form Branislav Ivanovic—like the Serb, he can play at right-back and at centre-back.

Furthermore, with John Terry's career seemingly winding down, the young defender could provide cover in the centre of defence and a potential long-term option at Chelsea's core.

Everton's Stones is still clearly the No. 1 target for Chelsea as the long-term successor for Terry, though. 

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The Blues pursued the England international fiercely during the transfer window, lodging four bids, the latest of which was close to the £40 million mark.

Chelsea head to Goodison Park on Saturday for a key Premier League clash, and Toffees boss Roberto Martinez insists he bears no grudge against Mourinho for his pursuit of Stones, per Dominic King in the Daily Mail:

"

Of course [I will shake Mourinho's hand] yes. I am against the rules (of the transfer window) and clubs being able to put in bids when the competition is on. I am not against clubs being interested in our players. I 100 per cent understand what happens.

Of course (Mourinho's comments displeased me) but that's because it's against the law. You cannot come out and comment about another player of another club because the Premier League rules do not allow you to do it. 

"

There seems to be a certain inevitability that 21-year-old Stones will eventually move to Chelsea despite Toffees chairman Bill Kenwright insisting Everton are "not a selling club," per David Maddock in the Mirror.

But Everton will be handsomely remunerated when they do decide to sell Stones on, and Chelsea are hardly in a position to drive a hard bargain given their need for quality young defenders.

First things first, though, they need to get their 2015-16 season on track, and they face a tough test against Stones and Everton on Saturday.