Chelsea set to make improved offer for Everton defender John Stones

Chelsea are ready to make a renewed £26million bid for Everton defender John Stones with hope that a deal can be tied up before Sunday’s Community Shield.

Everton are maintaining their stance that the player is not for sale but there is an expectation that the player’s desire to speak to Chelsea and the increased offer will persuade them to do business.

Relations between the two clubs have suffered over the past week with Chelsea bewildered by Roberto Martinez’s complaints while Everton were stung by Gary Cahill’s comments urging the 21-year-old to join the Premier League champions.

If a deal is to be done both clubs would want to complete it before the start of the season, allowing Everton time to sign a replacement, with Manchester United’s Jonny Evans likely to move to Goodison Park if Stones is sold.

Stones, 21, is regarded as the long-term successor to captain John Terry at the club and will play a prominent role in the forthcoming season if he moves.

Mourinho's attempts to prise away one of Everton's pivotal players may prove futile, with his comments in reaction to Martinez's complaints earlier this month unlikely to make any potential negotiations a smooth process.

The Portuguese manager was quoted as saying: ‘It’s a good market. That is why smaller other clubs if they have interesting young English players they use that in the right way for them. I don’t even criticise them.

'They play the market for themselves. And if the big clubs don’t want to go over certain limits, they have to make a decision. And that is maybe why none of the top clubs are not full of young English players. But that is the market.’

Credit: SportsMail