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Transfer gossip – Everton reject Stones bid

By Kevin Kelly

John Stones
John Stones /
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Playing for 90’s transfer gossip column brings you all the latest news and rumours of ins and outs from the Premier League and abroad, including news on the future of Everton’s John Stones.

Chelsea Bid for Stones

According to several media outlets this morning including the Daily Mail Chelsea have seen their £20m bid for Everton’s John Stones rejected. Jose Mourinho has turned his attention to the 21-year-old centre half although the Merseyside club are determined not to sell.

Stones has four years left on a contract signed last year worth £30,000 a week and Roberto Martinez expects this to be the season when he cements his place in the Everton back-four. Chelsea, on a pre-season tour in the USA, would have to return with a vastly improved offer if they were serious about luring him to Stamford Bridge this summer.

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Stones, signed for £3m from Barnsley in January 2013, when David Moyes was at the helm, is rated very highly at Goodison Park, especially at a time when there are very few top-quality central defenders on the market and the big clubs all want to buy home-grown players.

Meanwhile for Chelsea it seems they may have a suitor for Victor Moses – with Spurs interested in the wide man, with an £8m proposed move ready to be made, report the Daily Mirror. Tottenham have made an £8million move for Chelsea winger Victor Moses.

Moses, 24, spent last season on loan at Stoke and was farmed out to Liverpool for the one before that, but wants to return to London – where he grew up and began his pro career with Crystal Palace. It does not look like the Nigeria international has much of a future at Stamford Bridge – but Chelsea may not allow him to go to one of their fiercest London rivals.

Benitez insists Ramos won’t leave

Sergio Ramos is not leaving Real Madrid and is an integral part of the club’s plans, according to the new coach Rafa Benítez (via The Guardian).  Ramos has been linked to a move to Manchester United for several weeks, amid reports that Real have rejected offers of over £28m for the 29-year-old. Sources close to the player have said Ramos is keen on making the move to Old Trafford.

However, Benítez, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti after a trophy-less 2014-15 season, said he had no concerns about losing the seasoned central defender.

“In terms of Sergio Ramos, there’s a lot of talk about his situation,” Benítez told reporters in Melbourne. “For me, he is an enormous professional. In person, he applies himself, he does everything that the team and I ask of him.

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Rooney considers MLS

Wayne Rooney would consider playing in the MLS, though he is currently focused solely on Manchester United.

The caPtain is in the United States on the club’s pre-season tour, which begins with Friday’s match against Club América in Seattle. The 29-year-old is in the prime of his career but may be open in the future to following Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard into the American league.

“I’m obviously concentrating on Manchester United,” he said. “When that time comes, that’ll be something I’d think about. I’ll sit down with my wife and children and decide if it would be right for me.”

Rooney still believes he is improving. “You’re always adapting tactically,” the striker said. “You read the game better. I think that’s one of my qualities. That’s something that’s changed from me.”

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