Chelsea Transfer News: Latest on Jose Callejon and John Stones Rumours

Former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho will attempt to exploit his Bernabeu links, with talk of a move for Napoli's Jose Callejon, but the Blues have run into considerable competition for John Stones' signature.

Chelsea helmsman Mourinho mentored Callejon in the Spanish capital for two years before both departed Madrid in 2013. Metro's Jamie Sanderson has reported a £15.5 million bid is in the works.

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Sanderson wrote Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in the winger, who scored 11 goals in 33 Serie A starts last season.

According to one of Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio's translators, David Amoyal, Napoli are hoping to sign Mohamed Salah, but the forward looks set to join Roma on loan:

Callejon would be a strange investment, considering Mourinho already has Eden Hazard, Juan Cuadrado and Willian out wide, with the likes of Victor Moses and Bertrand Traore attempting to scale the pecking order.

Amoyal adds that Chelsea will seek a fee of €25 million (£17.7 million) if they're to sell Salah, which could aid them in sealing a swap move for Callejon, depending on whom Mourinho favours:

Earlier in July, Spanish newspaper AS named Atletico Madrid as one of the teams interested in bringing Callejon back to La Liga:

With Cuadrado still striving to find his feet in the English top flight following his February move from Fiorentina and Hazard the star of their show, Chelsea may struggle to find room for Callejon.

That being said, the Spain international may be open to a reunion with his former boss, and the Premier League champions would acquire a very decent cover option in attack for their troubles.

Blues Face Competition for Stones

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Manchester United have joined Chelsea in the hunt to sign Everton starlet John Stones this summer, following the Toffees' negative reaction to last week's £20 million offer from the Blues.

The Mirror's Steve Bates reports Louis van Gaal's side will also make a move for the England international after Everton chief Roberto Martinez criticised Chelsea's public pursuit of his player.

The Red Devils may be upbeat about their chances too, as Bates says Jonny Evans, Tyler Blackett, Javier Hernandez and Ashley Young are players Van Gaal may be willing to swap in order to land his target.

Bobby Hassell played with Stones at Barnsley and recently told the Press Association (via Independent's Mark Walker) he believes the central defender could excel under Mourinho's tutelage:

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I could see him going to play for Mourinho and getting even better. Natural defending is what Mourinho is a master at and John's got everything else—if he was a foreign player everybody would be raving about him.

He's that good on the ball, he's quick and so comfortable in possession. He's a good kid and a level-headed lad. He's from Barnsley and his parents are good people so he'll deal with the pressure that will come his way, unlike a lot of other lads.

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Stones has been likened to incumbent Chelsea centre-back John Terry for his surgical approach to defending. He thrives in Martinez's passing-oriented regime while bringing a tough presence to the back line.

Ben McAleer of WhoScored.com compared the 21-year-old to some of the Premier League's most prominent defensive talents, with his low foul count and passing success standing out:

Terry penned another one-year contract extension to remain at Stamford Bridge earlier this year, but with the former England captain turning 35 in December, the inevitable talk about retirement is sure to arise soon.

Manchester United's interest certainly makes the deal more difficult to construct, but Chelsea may now be more motivated to go after Stones this summer and bring in the heir apparent to Terry's throne.