Chelsea Transfer News: Latest on Raphael Varane and John Stones Rumours

John Terry's tenure at Chelsea could be brought to an abrupt end—with rumours the club have enquired about the availability of Real Madrid's Raphael Varane, and they are preparing a fourth attempt to sign Everton's John Stones. 

Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail says Terry is "unfazed" by his shock half-time substitution in Chelsea's defeat to Manchester City, but the defender will not be pleased to learn Jose Mourinho has enquired about Varane at this stage of the transfer window. 

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Steve Bates and Alan Oliver of the Sunday People (h/t the Mirror) wrote Stones "will appeal directly to Everton chairman Bill Kenwright to let him leave Goodison Park," with the Special One readying a huge final bid of £36 million for the England international. 

The Blues have already attempted three bids for the 21-year-old Toffee, with Mourinho clearly desperate to strengthen his defence before the transfer window closes. 

Bates and Oliver report Barnsley will take 15 percent of any fee received for Stones—the club who owned the player before his move to Everton in 2013—and Chelsea will have to make the rumoured new offer in order for Roberto Martinez to bank the £30 million he wants. 

Varane is one of the great defensive talents in world football but his place in the Madrid first team is still not guaranteed after Sergio Ramos and Pepe signed new contracts, per James Cambridge of the Express. The player operated under Mourinho during the coach's time at the Bernabeu, and he will have an acute understanding of the Frenchman's attributes and qualities. 

The 22-year-old made 21 starts for Los Blancos in La Liga last term, per WhoScored.com. He will now feel his talent deserves a more regular starting berth. Chelsea will be able to offer him this—and the chance to succeed Terry would surely be a tempting prospect. 

But it is the signing of Stones that appears to be the more likely, as the news filters through the young defender is keen on the move to the Premier League champions. 

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Everton stalwart Phil Jagielka commented on Stones' predicament, per Bates and Oliver, and said the speculation is unfair on his defensive colleague: 

"

John’s attitude has been down to him as a person and he’s got really good friends around him here. We are a tight unit as a club. It’s a test of his character and if he plays well in the next few games it can only put him in a better light. John is showing his maturity.

If he were to be a bit temperamental, spit the dummy and refuse to play, that puts question marks up against your character. But I can tell you now his character is fantastic, and he’s doing the right things to become the great centre-half we all know he can be.

"

Like Varane, the Evertonian is one of the top defensive prospects in Europe, but his price is steep when you consider his lack of experience. Stones managed just 23 starts in the Premier League last season, per WhoScored. Therefore, a jump straight into the Chelsea first team would be an enormous challenge. 

£36 million is a lot of money to spend on a player who will not have an immediate impact, but the long-term gains could be significant. But Mourinho has always been a coach who primarily concentrates on the immediate future, making Varane his favoured choice due to his top-flight experience. 

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Stones is yet to taste the big time of world football, and it is difficult to know how he will perform against the top clubs on the European stage. 

Football writer and Chelsea fan Rob Beasley has declared he doesn't want to see Stones at his club, but would certainly move for the Galactico talent:

"

I wouldn't even pay £25m for Stones. I'd pay it for Varane.

— ROB (@1RobBeasley) August 18, 2015"

As Terry winds down his Chelsea career, the question about the team's central defence threatens to rumble on beyond this transfer window.

Terry was excellent during the club's title-winning run of last year, and he hasn't suddenly become a bad player overnight.

However, players in the twilight of their careers can suddenly age very fast—and Mourinho might feel forced to answer the question hanging over his captain sooner rather than later.

Chelsea will need to evolve as the Manchester clubs break the bank for the best talent around, and it could be that Mourinho will sacrifice Terry early to keep his team ahead of the chasing pack.