John Stones hands in transfer request

 

Jose Mourinho has seen offers of £20m, £26m and £30m turned down for Stones this summer but the Premier League champions remain determined to land the England international ,preparing to launch a fourth bid in the region of  £35m.

Stones, who joined the Toffees for £3m from Barnsley in 2013, has now taken matters into his own hands in a bid to force through a move to Stamford Bridge by handing in a transfer request.

Everton boss Roberto Martinez was defiant when asked about Stones' future last week, insisting the 21-year-old would not be sold even if he handed in a transfer request.

Asked if such a move would force the issue, Martinez said: 'No. When you got a long-term contract those things don't change at all. If someone comes in from nowhere and puts in a transfer request that is a different situation.