John Stones - Everton to Block Move

Not sure how they can keep a player who stayed last season - for another season, if he really wants to leave:




England international defender John Stones could be forced to stay at Everton for another season at least, because the club are determined to hold on to their prized assets.

The ​Mirror reports that incoming Everton boss Ronald Koeman accepts that the club may have to sell top scorer Romelu Lukaku, but the Dutchman is determined to keep both Stones and Ross Barkley on board at Goodison despite heavy interest from elsewhere.

While speculation over Barkley's future has died down of late, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Barcelona have all been linked with a summer swoop for 22-year-old Stones. 

Everton turned down a series of offers from Chelsea last summer for the player, and while it had been expected he'd depart this time around, Everton have changed their stance.

Instead, they are hopeful that the new investment in the club and change in management will convince both players to put pen to paper on new contracts, enabling the Toffees to use the two as players to build their team around in the long term.

Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola are reported to be interested in bringing Stones to Manchester, but the former is set to complete a deal to sign Villarreal defender Eric Bailly in the coming days - making United's need for a new centre half far less urgent.

Everton are hopeful Stones will sit down to talk with Koeman once he returns from international duty with England, and believe they have the means to keep him at the club because of the new investment from Farhad Moshiri.

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/677748/Ross-Barkley-Everton-Contract-Manchester-City-Offer-Transfer-News-Ronald-Koeman-News

Guess it'll depend on how much he wants to leave and whether Pep is really that interested in bringing him in...as he'll cost in excess of another £40m.

If Laporte is going to come - that's another £80+ on CB's!!

DeM will be gone, but that still leaves Manga, Otamendi, Vinny and Denayer in addition to these 2.  

Which, will mean getting rid of the two current CB's and keeping Vinny and Denayer.

It's as clear as mud. But we will go in for him as he's HG.

I don't get this...can only assume it's something to do with the length of contracts the players have left.

" incoming Everton boss Ronald Koeman accepts that the club may have to sell top scorer Romelu Lukaku, but the Dutchman is determined to keep both Stones and Ross Barkley on board"

Everton are just going to do what they always do: Hold out for the best offer. What have they got to lose? If the bidding team keeps bumping up the offer, they're quids in. If they don't, they keep their valuable player. It's a win-win for them.

I expect we'll either be rolled over for a fortune or end up not getting him.

He could be very unhappy if they don't let him leave for a second summer and then next season he's poor again.