Chelsea set to make £30m bid for Everton defender John Stones

Chelsea are set to make a £30m ($47m) bid for Everton defender John Stones in a bid to prise him to Stamford Bridge, as reported by the Guardian.

The Blues have already had two bids rejected for the defender and are confident that their latest bid would be enough to bring him to London. However, the Mirror reported that Everton would only be willing to do business should they meet their valuation of £34m ($53m) but Chelsea are confident they can get the deal across the line before the end of the transfer window.

Chelsea have earmarked the 21-year-old as a direct replacement for John Terry, who has entered his mid-thirties and is not getting any younger. Stones is an integral part of the Everton first team and would be an important addition for the Blues, who are looking to shore up their defence in a bid to reclaim their title.

Manchester United are also interested in the player, with the Mirror again reporting that Louis van Gaal has identified the youngster to fill in for his defence after missing out on Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid. However, the Red Devils are yet to make a concrete bid and recent reports suggest that Jose Mourinho's side are the favourites for his signature.

Roberto Martinez has already had an altercation with the Blues manager for his public pursuit of the defender, but Mourinho has urged the former Wigan man to reject any bid made for the player if they are unwilling to sell.

Everton have to look for an established centre-half before allowing Stones to leave, with Leighton Baines also out with a long-term injury following a knock on his ankle in training last week.

The report states that Martinez wants to add a central defender, a creative number 10 and a striker before the end of the transfer window and the massive fees being quoted for Stones would go a long way in addressing those requirements.