Chelsea Transfer News: Latest John Stones, Juan Cuadrado Rumours

Chelsea are set to make a fresh bid for John Stones, per the latest rumours.

According to Darren Lewis of the Mirror, the Blues have already had "a £20 million bid turned down for the Everton centre-back, 21, but will return this week."

Lewis also reported that Blues boss Jose Mourinho has admitted his desire to bring a young defender to Stamford Bridge this summer. The Portuguese said:

"

One more defender and Chelsea will be ready for anything next season.

I am looking for a defender to finish the balance in our squad and after that we are ready to answer to anything that can happen with our players.

We would like to have two less than 25 years old, which would give us [strength in that position for] the next ten years.

"

Mourinho has understandably identified Stones as a target following an excellent couple of seasons for the youngster.

Stones started 23 matches in the Premier League last season, and as this graphic from WhoScored.com illustrates, the Englishman stacks up very well in comparison to Chelsea's defensive options:

As well as his strong defensive stats, such as tackles made and aerial duels won, Stones particularly impresses with his ball retention and distribution, making 45.1 passes per game and maintaining an outstanding 89.5 per cent accuracy while doing so.

It is perhaps this quality that led to free-agent midfielder Joey Barton to liken him to a young Rio Ferdinand:

The defender's form at Everton indicates he is ready to make the step up to one of the top clubs in English football, and a possible partnership with Kurt Zouma shows excellent long-term planning on Chelsea's part.

However, with John Terry showing little sign of slowing down and Gary Cahill performing ably alongside him, Stones could well find himself restricted to the bench for large periods of the season.

The Englishman would likely be better served curbing his ambitions for at least one more year in order to get more top-flight football under his belt so as not to hinder his development.

Juan Cuadrado to Be Sold at the Right Price

According to the Guardian's Steve Brenner, Chelsea will happily sell Juan Cuadrado "but will not take anything less than the £26.1 million paid to Fiorentina in January."

Cuadrado scored six goals and made four assists for Fiorentina last season before his move to Stamford Bridge, but upon his arrival at Chelsea, he struggled to break into the first team.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

The Colombian started just four games for the Premier League champions and failed to have any impact of note, save for appearing as an expensive flop.

Per Brenner's report, Mourinho admitted he has enough options to let Cuadrado leave, along with Mohamed Salah. He said: "At the moment, with [Eden] Hazard and Willian, [Bertrand] Traore, [Victor] Moses and Cuadrado, we have five players for these positions. It is better not to have so many."

Having got so little for so much money, the Blues' desire to recoup their outlay is natural.

Unfortunately for Chelsea, Cuadrado's struggles will also make it more difficult for this to happen.

While the 27-year-old enjoyed a positive spell in Italy prior to the move and undoubtedly has plenty to offer, Chelsea are unlikely to find a club willing to pay £26 million for a player they are apparently eager to sell.

If they won't accept anything less, expect Cuadrado to remain at Chelsea until at least January.

Given more time to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League, he could show the qualities that earned him his move, but his opportunities will surely be limited thanks to the form of Oscar, Hazard and Willian.