Chelsea set to look elsewhere as Everton reject British record £37m offer for John Stones

Everton's John Stones has been the subject of a fourth bid of £37million from Chelsea

CHELSEA have made a fourth and final £37million bid for John Stones - a British record for a defender.

 

The bid has been rejected by Everton despite Stones' transfer request earlier this week.

Chelsea, who had bids of £20m, £25m and £30m rejected earlier this month, are now exploring other options.

 

The Stamford Bridge club had still believed a deal could be done, but are now looking at alternatives, including Real Madrid's Raphaele Varane or Ezequiel Garay of Zenit St Petersburg.

The England centre-back told Everton on Tuesday that he wanted to move, but Everton chairman Bill Kenwright has turned down Stones' request, adding that he would not sanction a deal ahead of Tuesday's transfer deadline.

He said: "Everton have rejected a transfer request from John Stones.

 

"Since the start of the 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 manager Roberto Martinez surprisingly selected the 21-year-old for Wednesday's Capital One Cup second-round tie at Barnsley.

Stones, who moved to Goodison Park from Oakwell for £3m in January 2013, performed poorly against his former club, although Everton won the tie 5-3 after extra-time.

 

Following the match, Martinez said that the defender's request to leave would be rejected, while also arguing that the transfer window should close before the start of the season, in order to prevent players from becoming distracted by potential moves.

Martinez has suggested that he sees Stones, who has four England caps, as a future captain of his country.

The manager said after Wednesday's game: "We've got great ambition and desire, and great plans for John. In life and in football, sometimes money cannot buy everything."