Chelsea will back Jose Mourinho in January window as they plot £36m bid for John Stones

Everton's John Stones will be Chelsea's primary target in January as they plot a £36m bid

CHELSEA will back beleaguered manager Jose Mourinho with transfer funds in January, starting with a £36million move for Everton defender John Stones.

 

Mourinho, whose team lie 16th in the Premier League with only two wins from their opening eight games, has been handed a vote of confidence by club owner Roman Abramovich but also warned that results must improve.

He had four bids for England defender Stones rejected in the summer but has far from given up on the 21-year-old, and will make another move when the January transfer window opens.

 

Chelsea will also try again for Paris Saint-Germain central defender defender Marquinhos as a fallback option in case Stones yet again proves elusive.

Mourinho had a £33m bid for the 21-year-old rejected on deadline day, but the Brazilian is seen as a more achievable option than Stones, having fallen behind in the central defensive pecking order at PSG with Thiago Silva and former Chelsea star David Luiz the incumbents.

 

Chelsea Jose Mourinho has been handed a vote of confidence by Roman Abramovich

Chelsea have been shocking defensively so far this season, conceding 17 goals in their first eight league games. They conceded only 32 in the whole of last season as they lifted the title.

Another worry for Mourinho is that defender Branislav Ivanovic and midfielder Nemanja Matic both picked up injuries and came off as Serbia defeated Albania 2-0 in their heated Euro2016 qualifier in Tirana on Thursday night.

 

The game was a rematch after the first clash between the two sides was abandoned last year after a flag-carrying drone caused chaos.

Ivanovic, who has been in poor form but has been a regular selection under Mourinho this season, suffered a hamstring injury and Chelsea are anxiously awaiting reports.