Chelsea to make improved Stones bid

Chelsea are ready to launch a £26m for Everton defender John Stones, according to the Mail Online.

The Premier League champions had a £20m bid for the centre-back rejected by the Merseyside outfit, but will now return with an improved offer as they look to bring in a long term replacement for John Terry, who turns thirty-five in December.

Stones moved to Goodison Park from Barnsley in the summer of 2013 and has since racked up fifty-four appearances for the Toffees in all competitions, scoring his only goal so far in a 3-0 win over Manchester United back in April.

His form for Roberto Martinez’s side has seen him gain senior international recognition, and the twenty-one year old was on stand-by for last summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil.

Despite in two games prior to the tournament, he did not make the final squad as Phil Jones recovered from injury in time to be included, though he has four caps in total.