Ferdinand urges John Stones to choose Manchester United over Chelsea

Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United to sign John Stones to bring much-needed defensive solidity to Old Traffordand believes the Everton centre-half would be foolish to join Chelsea.

José Mourinho’s club have attempted to prise Stones from Everton, who insist that the player is not for sale and have rejected two bids from Chelsea, but United are also interested and Ferdinand says his former club would be well-advised to weigh in with an offer.

The former England captain argues that any choice for the 21-year-old between joining United or Chelsea ought to be straightforward owing to the competition for places at Stamford Bridge. Ferdinand says the state of Louis van Gaal’s defence is such that Stones would immediately become its linchpin but that the former Barnsley player may not be ready to dislodge John Terry or Gary Cahill from Chelsea’s backline.

“If he goes to Man United, he plays every week so that’s the right club for him,” Ferdinand said. “If he goes to Chelsea, he’s not playing every week. He’s at that stage of his development where he wants to play every week. If you say to any young footballer to leave a club to sit on the bench, you’ve got to be a lunatic. You have to be.”

Stones has yet to play in the Champions League and has four England caps but Ferdinand sees qualities that persuade him the player is “the real deal”. Ferdinand was on the substitutes’ bench at Queens Park Rangers when Stones played there for Everton in March.

“He’s very good on the ball,” said Ferdinand, speaking at a BT Sport event to launch the broadcaster’s football coverage for the coming season. “I took a real interest in him and watched him at Loftus Road against Bobby Zamora, who gave most centre-halves problems last season physically, and he handled Bobby well, and that physical element. That was one of the areas that I hadn’t really seen him under pressure with and he looked up for that battle. With all the other stuff he’s got, he’s got a real good chance.”

Credit" Guardian Sport