Chelsea Transfer News: Mega John Stones Price Demanded by Everton, Fresh Rumours

Everton will demand a massive £45 million fee if they're to cash in on Chelsea target John Stones this summer despite recent claims the defender is not for sale.

The Sun's Ken Lawrence said Toffees manager Roberto Martinez will attempt to "call Chelsea's bluff" by requesting the gargantuan figure for his centre-back starlet.

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It could prove a dangerous ploy from the Spanish tactician, however, considering speculation the Blues are prepared to fork out big numbers in order to land the 21-year-old.

Matters were complicated after Stones submitted a transfer request on Tuesday before playing in Everton's 5-3 Capital One Cup second-round win against Barnsley a day later. After that win, Martinez said the request was going to be rejected, per Tim Rich of the Independent:

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His request will be rejected. I have not spoken about it until now because we have been preparing for a match but we need to set an example for other clubs. Money cannot buy everything in football. Players are human and they deserve to be able to consider the next move in their careers but we are attempting to build the club and get to a Wembley final.

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Stones has played every minute of Everton's 2015-16 Premier League campaign thus far and has stood out as one of the team's better players en route to a record of one win, one draw and one defeat.

Martinez went on to voice his disappointment in the Premier League as a governing body, stating his belief that the transfer window should close prior to the season getting underway:

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I feel very let down by the authorities who have allowed the transfer window to be open while we playing because it has become a complete circus that is affecting one of our players. I am not surprised John has handed in a transfer request because he is a young man under massive pressure.

He is going to be influenced because he is an impressionable age but we are determined to look after him at Everton and do the very best for him. We have a chairman who is a proper Evertonian and who knows that John is a central part of our club.

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The Mirror's Darren Lewis has reported Chelsea are lining up Stones as part of a £159 million late-summer spending spree, with £70 million-rated Juventus star Paul Pogba also in their sights.

Stones' reported £45 million price tag appears to be a quick change of heart from Martinez, who told Sky Sports on Wednesday evening his player was simply "not for sale:"

Sky Sports recently reported Everton were hoping to tie up a deal for River Plate defender Ramiro Funes Mori after acquiring Mason Holgate from Barnsley for a fee of £2 million.

However, neither player brings the same established presence as England international Stones, and Merseyside-based writer Richard Buxton feels the Everton board risk outrage from the club's fans if they decide to cash in:

Chelsea may heed the reported £45 million valuation as realistic by their standards, especially with John Terry's contract once again set to expire at the end of this season.

Manager Jose Mourinho is in a race against time to secure the heir to that considerable throne, but convincing the Toffees to part ways with the in-demand Stones will prove no easy feat.