Manchester United: Red Devils planning to offer Phil Jones plus cash to sign Everton's John Stones

Manchester United have still not given up on signing Everton defender John Stones this summer. The Red Devils are keen to sign a central defender after missing out on Sergio Ramos, who committed his future to Real Madrid, and will look to hijack Chelsea's move for the Toffees defender.

Everton have already rejected two bids from the Blues for the former Barnsley defender, while also turning down a transfer request from the player. Roberto Martinez has made it clear that the defender is not for sale, but the Premier League giants will not be deterred by the tough stance taken by the Merseyside club.

According to ESPN FC, the 20-time English champions will make another offer to Everton, but this time they will offer Phil Jones as part of a player-plus-cash deal, after Martinez dismissed the idea of signing Jonny Evans, who was initially offered as part of the deal.

Jones is currently sidelined with shingles and Louis van Gaal has been comfortable playing Chris Smalling alongside Daley Blind at the heart of United's defence. The duo has looked solid as the Red Devils are yet to concede a goal after three games of the new Premier League campaign.

The Dutchman also has Marcos Rojo, who is currently building up fitness, after missing out on United's pre-season tour of the United States due to passport issues. The arrival of Stones will make it a problem of plenty for the manager and thus they are willing to include the injury-prone yet talented former Blackburn player as part of the deal.

United and Chelsea have five days remaining in the ongoing transfer window to convince Everton to allow the defender to leave. But Martinez and club chairman Bill Kenwright are unwilling to let the player leave, with the manager indicating that sometimes money cannot buy everything.