Everton have rejected a British transfer record £37m bid from Chelsea for defender John Stones and the Premier League champions are now considering their options ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline, according to The Daily Mirror.
Chelsea’s astonishing fourth bid of the summer would shatter the current British transfer record for a defender held by Manchester City when they paid £32m for both Eliaquim Mangala last summer and Nicolas Otamendi earlier this month.
Everton confirmed on Thursday afternoon that they rejected Stones’ transfer request and Jose Mourinho’s side are now considering walking away from the deal and quickly reevaluating their targets with the transfer deadline fast approaching.
“Everton Football Club has rejected a transfer request from John Stones,” said chairman Bill Kenwright in a statement released on the club’s official website.
“Since the start of the transfer window, we have resolutely turned down offers from another Premier League club for our player.
“John is not for sale and he will remain a highly valued member of our first-team squad.”
Everton signed Stones from Barnsley for just £3m in 2013 and the 21-year-old has been previously been tipped as a future England captain.
For more stats on John Stones, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
Chelski needs to bid 240 million to get stones lol