Chelsea Transfer News: John Stones Obstacle Emerges, Steven Naismith Warns Star

A sell-on cause in John Stones’ Everton contract is set to complicate Chelsea’s reported pursuit of the defender, with Barnsley entitled to 15 per cent of any fee the Toffees recoup for the England international should they decide to cash in.

That’s according to Matt Barlow of the Daily Mail, who also wrote that the Blues, who have already had three offers for the defender rejected, could come back with a fourth offer for Stones. According to Dominic Fifield and Andy Hunter of the Guardian, a “final bid” of £40 million is being discussed.

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If the bid was to be accepted, it’d mean Everton would have to relinquish £6 million to the Oakwell club, who sold Stones in January 2013. But manager Roberto Martinez has been adamant throughout the summer the defender is not for sale under any circumstances, per BBC Sport.

The chance to join Chelsea will be a tantalising one for the youngster. After all, there’s no denying the Blues are better placed to challenge for major honours at Stamford Bridge and operating alongside players like John Terry would only serve to enrich his development as a young centre-back.

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Peter McPartland of Toffee TV thinks Jose Mourinho’s half-time substitution of Terry against Chelsea sends a clear message to Stones too:

But Stones’ Everton team-mate Steven Naismith has warned the defender that he’s better off developing with the Toffees for now, citing club captain Phil Jagielka as a fine role model, per David Anderson of the Daily Mirror:

"

Have a long think about it—the grass isn’t always greener. At this stage, it’s hard for players to see this exact moment in their career. You can be blinded.

I know, when I was injured and coming back, not playing football was the hardest thing and I would have dropped down two divisions just to play. 

There’s so much to think about, and Phil Jagielka is a great mentor. He’s a great leader - not just for defenders, but our squad as a whole. I think John, if you ask him, he would be one of the first to mention him as one of the folk he’s learnt off most at the club.

"

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It seems Everton are making contingency plans just in case a move does go ahead, though. According to David Amoyal, translating for GianlucaDiMarzio.com, the Toffees have already made enquiries for Internazionale man Andrea Ranocchia with a view to a move in the event that Stones does leave the club.

It’d be a major surprise if Everton did let the player leave in the final embers of the window. As noted by Chris Bascombe of the Daily Telegraph, there’s an argument to say Stones is still undervalued:

Mourinho knows how to spot a talented defender and the aggressive manner of the Blues’ pursuit is a measure of Stones’ potential. For a player that’d most likely be a mainstay at the heart of the Chelsea defence for the best part of a decade, £40 million is certainly a price worth paying.

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But looking at the sale from an Everton perspective, it would leave the club in a perilous situation. Already there is fan unrest engulfing Goodison Park, so selling the club’s best young talent, subsequently undermining the manager’s staunch stance and scrapping around for replacements in the latter stages of the transfer window could quickly turn things ugly on Merseyside.

And if Mourinho is aware of just how promising Stones is, then you can bet Everton are too. If the Blues are willing to pay £40 million for the player now, after another season of development they’ll be ready to spend more next summer. The player will leave Goodison Park eventually, but with four years remaining on his contract, the Toffees can ensure he does so on their terms. Not Chelsea’s.