Barcelona Transfer News: John Stones Tops Fan Poll, Latest Blaugrana Rumours

Barcelona fans have reportedly been polled for their opinion on Everton's John Stones—with almost three-quarters of those responding hoping the Catalan giants will recruit the English centre-back.

According to the MailOnline's Matt Maltby, prior to their 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Saturday, Spanish newspaper Sport conducted a poll asking the Blaugrana fans to give their take on the youngster and "almost 75 per cent" of them wanted the club to sign him.

Barca's fans are not the only ones enamoured with the 21-year-old, who was recently the subject of considerable praise by defensive stalwart Gerard Pique. Per the Telegraph's Jason Burt, the Spaniard picked Stones in his "world dream team" and said:

"

Now I think John Stones is a really, really, good player. He will have a good career. He’s like Rio [Ferdinand], a bit. ...

Now the position of the centre-back is not just about defending or being nasty or tough. It’s about knowing how to play football, control the ball, pass and be more comfortable in possession. And this is something that 10 years ago [in England] they didn’t understand. Rio was the first one who did it. And now there is Stones, he’s one of the new generation who understand football not just as a defender.

"

Pique's admiration of him is understandable given the technical quality and the desire to drive forward from defence Stones possesses, which was on show in the Toffees' thrashing of Aston Villa on Saturday, per the Liverpool Echo's Tony Scott:

Despite his tender age, Stones already compares well with more experienced defenders. WhoScored.com reveals how he stacked up against Chelsea's centre-backs last season, who formed the meanest defence in the league:

Barca could do with recruiting a new long-term defensive partner for Pique in the near future, and Stones is undoubtedly one of the top candidates.

Everton are set to fight tooth and nail to keep their star, and they certainly won't let him leave in January, but a bidding war seems almost inevitable as Europe's elite vie to prise him away from Goodison Park.

A defender who could be on his way out of the Camp Nou is Marc Bartra, as according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo (h/t James Cambridge of the Express) Manchester United are set to pursue him in January.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

The 24-year-old has averaged just one hour in each of his 10 appearances in all competitions this season and played a total of only 25 games last year as he is firmly considered a back-up to the first team.

The La Masia frequently divides opinion, with Spanish football experts Rafael Hernandez and Sergi Dominguez clearly disagreeing on him:

However, Dominguez did praise Bartra's performance in a recent and rare outing for Spain:

Until the club can recruit further defensive reinforcements, they would be wise to keep hold of him.

Further, the player has indicated in the past he's content to stay in Barcelona despite struggling for regular game time, telling Marca (h/t Cambridge): "Every year people say the same things, but staying at Barca was [and remains] the only thing on my mind. I have it all here. Feeling important in a team like this one is special."

Don't expect Bartra to be offloaded until at least next summer.