Chelsea Transfer News: Latest on Nemanja Matic and John Stones Rumours

Chelsea are reportedly ready to resist any offer from Manchester United and former manager Jose Mourinho for Nemanja Matic, while it’s also suggested the club will face stiff competition in their attempts to capture Everton’s John Stones.

As reported by Sam Wallace of the Daily Telegraph, Mourinho seems poised to join United after the recent departure of former boss Louis van Gaal. According to Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph, the Portuguese wants to take the Serbia international with him to Old Trafford, having been a key part of the Blues’ title win in 2014-15.

“But Chelsea are determined not to sell Matic to Mourinho, with incoming head coach Antonio Conte keen to work with the player—despite stepping up his bid to sign midfielder Radja Nainggolan from Roma,” added Law.

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Although he didn’t enjoy the finest term in 2015-16, as was the case with a lot of Chelsea players, these numbers from WhoScored.com show just how effective Matic can be in the middle of the park:

He’s a destructive presence at his best. The 27-year-old slotted back into Chelsea’s side brilliantly after rejoining the club in the January window in 2014 before kicking on the following year and becoming one of the best players in the league.

For the pragmatic style of football Mourinho likes to play, he can be a vital influence.

Conte also demands a defensive fortitude and intensity off the ball from his players, which is why it’s easy to see the Italian also viewing Matic as an important member of the squad. If he can spark him into life again and reinstall the rumbustious presence to the nucleus of this Blues team, then he’d be a huge asset.

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Stones is a player the Blues chased last summer with a view to stiffening the team up, and while he also endured a tough campaign, according to Law, interest in the Toffees star remains high.

Manchester United, Manchester City and Barcelona are all touted as potential suitors for the England international.

Bleacher Report’s Dean Jones ran the rule over whether or not he thinks the 21-year-old defender will be on the move this summer:

"

Both Manchester clubs want John Stones, while City also want Alexis Sanchez. @DeanJonesBR assesses their chanceshttps://t.co/LpbmrfAMbI

— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) May 23, 2016"

Despite the illustrious names linked, it’s suggested the Blues—despite a change of manager—also remain keen on the youngster. However, they are now “behind City and Barca,” according to Law.

Stones was often the fall guy at Goodison Park last term, with the system played under manager Roberto Martinez far too cavalier, leaving the defence exposed. The former Everton boss also sought to indulge the centre-back’s class on the ball—something that always seemed natural to the former Barnsley man—and left his defensive issues to fester.

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In the right setup and with the right kind of guidance, all the tools are there for Stones to go on and become one of the finest centre-backs around.

However, journalist Patrick Boyland is unsure whether Everton will deal with Chelsea again after the Blues had four bids for the defender rejected last summer, per Law:

Stones still has a lot of problems to iron out of his game, and wherever he opts to move next season—should he leave Everton at all—it’s imperative he works with a coach who builds his defensive skill set. His risk-taking also needs to be stifled, although when he first burst on to the scene with the Toffees as a 19-year-old, the balance he had was ideal.

Conte could well be the ideal manager in that sense, as he forged one of the meanest defensive structures in Europe during his time with Juventus.

However, the chance to work with coaches like Mourinho, Pep Guardiola at City or move to Barcelona, where a ball-playing centre-back like Stones would excel, would all naturally tempt the Everton man.