Exclusive: Chelsea to make £40m bid for Everton's Stones (but Terry is up for the fight)

John Stones could cost more than the £32m Man City paid for Eliaquim Mangala

CHELSEA will have to smash the Premier League's record transfer fee for a defender in order to land John Stones with Everton set to reject a fresh £30m bid for him.

 

The Chelsea board reacted to Sunday's chastening 3-0 defeat to Manchester City - and the half-time substitution of captain John Terry - by submitting the improved offer for the 21-year-old England international yesterday.

It was the third bid from Jose Mourinho's side with Everton having already rejected bids of £20m and £26m.

 

The £32m Manchester City paid for Eliaquim Mangala last summer makes him the most expensive defender in Premier League history.

But there is an acceptance at Chelsea they will have to set a new benchmark of nearer £40m to test Everton's resolve which makes yesterday's offer all the more puzzling.

But it reveals the fact that owner Roman Abramovich is prepared to spend in the next 15 days to rescue Chelsea's stumbling title defence.

 

In Demand: Lyon's £21m-rated forward Alexandre Lacazzette

Chelsea skipper John Terry will remain part of Jose Mourinho's plans despite their poor start

Mourinho, who according to club sources has been fighting everyone in the last two weeks as his frustration at the lack of new blood has boiled over, also wants £21m to buy Alexandre Lacazette.

The Lyon striker, 24, who scored 31 goals for Lyon last season, has recently signed a one-year contract extension, but it is thought that is a tactic to bump up his price by the French club. Paris Saint-Germain and Roma are also fans.

Chelsea are also still considering Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann.

 

Mourinho has also reassured skipper John Terry his future is not in doubt after the 34-year-old was taken off at half-time in Sunday's 3-0 defeat at Manchester City, which left Mourinho's side with just one point from a possible six - their worst start to a season since 1998.

While Chelsea's new £21.7m defender Baba Rahman is expected to train this afternoon and could feature at West Brom on Sunday, Terry has been told he will figure too.

A source close to the player said: "JT likes a fight and loves playing for Chelsea. Don't expect him to walk away from this one.

 

"He'll continue to play his heart out and is convinced he can prove his value to the manager. Nobody will work harder than him in training this week.

"JT knows other clubs would line up to take him but he is dedicated to Chelsea and can't see himself wearing any other shirt. He expects to be in the team to play West Brom and is confident Chelsea will win the title this season with him playing a key role as captain."

Chelsea are also interested in Cagliari's young Ghanaian midfielder Godfred Dansah.