Third Chelsea bid for Stones rejected

My old man said he'll give up on Everton if he's sold, who would blame him.

Vision- last minute deal on transfer deadline day, 38m,but too late to spend the dosh, which disappears for ever into the abyss that is our financial mess.

Obviously I would rather he spends his whole career at Goodison winning things...

John Stones is a classy english prospect who looks like he could go all the way but he is not irreplaceable! At this moment in time losing our captain Jagielka would be a bigger loss!

There must be plenty of quality centre half's out there! Lewis Dunk at Brighton looks a cracking ball winning, footballing English centre half who would cost around £5 mill leaving £25 mill for Yarmelenko, Alex Song and another striker!

I would like to keep him and still get our transfer targets but if that is not possible then I'd rather see a much improved team than keep one player!

Answer on the back of a stamp please.

I think everyone just needs to chill the fuck out. Stones is going nowhere, this season at least.

On a serious note, I think he's gone. Too many people within the game (not fucking journalists!) are stating that personal terms were agreed a long time ago, and it's just about getting Everton to sell. If that's the case, then the player has to hand in a transfer request and screw this loyalty payment bollocks.

If Man U can be "forced" into losing Ronaldo, and the RS Suarez, we certainly can't hold on to Stones if his head's been turned. That doesn't get Bill off the hook - these players should be thinking that they can challenge with Everton - or at least improve. Because Ronaldo and Suarez were world class when they left - Stones is still potential.

On a cash only basis, what would the price of relegation be for us? That's the price of Stones right there. I would say he is actually worth way more than $40m to us, he's actually priceless, unless we have suitable replacements both for him and also Alcatraz and Distin.

I disagree, I actually think he is irreplaceable. I can’t think of a defender in Europe (at his young age) that I’d rather have or anyone more suited to the modern game. Chelsea aren’t buying some 27 year old to give them 5 years service. They are looking at a long term (10-year plus) fix for a departing Terry. John Stones would sort one half of their CB pairing for a decade and as such should be kept at all costs (this window) or priced as such.

This will sound contradictive but we should at least get one more year out of him and let the media hype increase. With every column inch written about him his value only goes up. Soon media outlets in other countries will pick up on the buzz and fans of Europe's elite will incite a bidding war for young John.

The Swansea one went on to accuse us of being a bunch of meanies for unsettling their captain Ashley Williams and would we please go away. My point being, unfounded rumours are bad for your health and should be ignored until the beautiful Natalie, or Kirsty, announce them on SSn.

We don't have millions to spend, but we could start challenging for silverware, with one or two additions

Selling Stones for £35m or so, would probably wipe Lukaku's debt, few million to Barnsley and maybe a new CB. Complete waste of a golden opportunity

£40 million was a number bandied about.

I would love some serious statistician to work out the percentages of how many of these rumours actually come to fruition. I’ll start the ball rolling, so out of 1000’s of predictions made every season I’d say about 2% are right. The other 98% are just made-up bollocks.

1. We don’t need to. He’s under contract so we can make him stay (and he’s not going to be disruptive like a Sterling or Fellaini if he does -- see point 3 below). We have enough TV money for the time being to get the squad we want and can afford long term.

2. Martinez has said we are not going to sell -- by itself, I would not rely on this but it really reinforces point #1. Also, Martinez has form here -- he let Fellaini go because Fellaini did not really fit Martinez’s mould, he was bringing in Barry and McCarthy anyway to run the central midfield. He did not let Baines go because Baines was a first team player that fitted his plans.

3. It's obviously not in Stones’s best interests to join Chelsea just yet. He has just got into the Everton team and what he needs is regular Premier League experience. He may not get it at Chelsea this season, and even if he gets the opportunity if he makes the errors for them that he makes for us, they will be much less forgiving. He would be far better off to get a full PL season with us, become a regular in the England squad and then negotiate a better deal with us or Chelsea or whoever next summer.

So just relax. This is not about calls to Stones’s loyalty or worrying about him being "turned" (it's a given he will leave if it suits him -- but he is better off with us for now). It’s not about us needing the money... Blue Bill may want the money but we can always get more for him next year... so he will stay.

I asked the question yesterday, and was shot down, being called a journeyman fan, and basically being told the club doesn’t need supporters like this.

The same man went on to say that he would still be there if Everton sold everyone. Very admirable, that might be... but also very stupid. He was basically saying he would watch Everton if they fielded eleven monkeys! Whilst I understood what he was trying to say, I realised why Kenwright has got away with it for so long.

I hope it’s just mischief of a journalist, but why put a price on someone who is not for sale? My own view is Stones will go... and, if he does, I will not have been so disappointed since Wayne Rooney left.

BUT, whilst the Rooney money probably kept the club alive, there should be no excuses now, what with all the money in football.

The track record of this Board doesn't inspire confidence in anything other than a sale, with RM getting a proportion of the money for replacements.

Hope I'm wrong and we keep the lad. Otherwise the only positive won't be £40m, it will be that the veil is finally lifted from the eyes of those who still think The Dear Leader is good for our Club.

First of all, we only have two established centre-backs, and let’s be honest, Phil Jagielka is not getting any younger is he?

Second, it is now too late in the transfer window to start shopping around for an effective replacement; any such sale if it was going to happen should have been negotiated and completed before the season got underway.

Third, if it did come to pass that we have to look for a replacement, we would be in the land of the panic buyers with clubs asking inflated prices fir their players knowing we are desperate to sign someone.

Finally, how many times do Chelsea have to be told that he is not for sale? If anything, they are currently the ones who are panicking after a dismal start to their season, while we are looking good so far, and certainly in with a chance of challenging at the top again if we can continue to play as we did on Saturday. That is if we can keep our squad together and add to it, as Roberto wants, and not start selling off the family silver, sending out the totally wrong message to those Mirallas and McCarthy who have signed new contracts and bought into Roberto’s dream.

In short, there are far more reasons for us to hold on to Stones than there are to let him go, so let’s hope the board do something right for the club and fans, back the manager, and tell Chelsea where to stick their bid. Their underhanded tactics in this whole affair should also make us refuse to do any business with them for quite some time.

The way the media has been behaving in this whole saga has been disgraceful. On some websites I read earlier, Martinez is accused of being a hypocrite because he signed Holgate after the season started when he was quoted as saying no players should be allowed to sign for clubs after the season starts. How ridiculous.

The gutter press are really pissing me off in trying to do our business for us. I include the Echo in that. Talk about manipulation. They’re trying to engineer the move for Stones purely to add column inches and to prove themselves correct.

Oh for a world where, if papers make these statements which then turn out to be total lies and fabrication, they’re severely financially punished! Parasites and liars the lot of ’em!

I just hope Chelsea fail and we are resolute, anyone but that little shit Mourinho. We’ve got a diamond here and £30M is derisory, Kevin De Bruyne is £47M allegedly, David Luiz £50M.

Some people are saying that if we get £40 million and it's spent well etc... Etc...
Well I for one am hoping that we have money to spend regardless of any sales as this has already been promised. Trust in the words that he is NOT for sale.
Why would any businessman sell something that's value is going to increase over the next year at around £1 million a month. That's right, no one with any amount of commons sense or business acumen.

My prediction, and I am in training to reach the dizzy heights of our good friend and fellow toffee web poster Colin Glasser ... Is that we will buy Austin for 10 million, a central defensive cover for £4-5 million and yarmelenko for £10 million to play as our "creative" goal scoring midfielder.

Let's just chill out (down with kids slang me!) and get massively behind them on Sunday.

Stop fretting. COYB

That's who we are looking to replace... not Stonesy!

Up to JT being subbed, Stones's move was to sit on the bench; now it is possible his playing time with Chelsea would be much more than first thought.

If this is the case, then the selling of Stones has changed: it's gone from Chelsea wanting a backup with a long future to now NEEDING a new CB.

If that is the case, and in my view it is, then it has gone from wanting, to needing, and this will make a huge impact in any negotiation on price. They have the money, if Stones wants away then the door is open to get the £45-50 million to let the deal go through.

I will say again, I do not want him to go and, to me, the only reason he will is if he wants to.

Chelsea have an ageing defence and a mediocre start to the season. Mourinho is feeling the heat and subbed JT for the first time this weekend. They’re desperate to get Stones and will pay silly money.

I really want Stones to stay, but IF he goes, we should absolutely mug Chelsea for it. £30 mil or £40 mil? Fuck off. I want more than City paid for Sterling.

My prediction is Stones will stay at Everton this season and then leave for somebody other than Chelsea after the Euros next summer.

I don’t think (hope) Martinez would be foolish enough to consistently state publicly that Stones is not for sale at this time at any price only to allow a last minute deal to go through. Others will say that is exactly the plan but, again, everyone has an opinion.

Personally I would get huge satisfaction from seeing the window shut with no sale. Seeing the reaction of the Chelsea fans - Like Colin # 11 I read that SB nation article where their fans couldn’t understand our reluctance to sell. In fact they seemed quite put out by our ’audacity’, priceless.

I’ve said before, not caving in to this Chelsea pressure would send out a huge statement of intent from the club. Add in Yarmolenko, a CB & a striker. Suddenly the outlook would be very encouraging and we would be discussing our chances of challenging the Big 4 again. Let's hope those are the types of opinions debated on ToffeWeb in the very near future.

I'm confident we will make the 3 needed signings, I would love Austin, Yarmelenko and a young CB. I agree with Neil that we could probably get both Austin & Yarme for ~20M (QPR must reduce their current 15M price tag for a player who only has 1 year left in his contract, maybe we should remind them what happened to us with Peanut).

If the funds are already there then there is no (NO!) need whatsoever to sell Stones, even at £40M. If we did and our kitty increased to say £65M (that's assuming 100% will be reinvested), and we still aimed to strengthen by 3 players, plus an extra to replace Stones. I don't believe we would be able to attract higher quality players, so you would assume the same signings would be made and the remaining kitty would magically vanish come January.

We will have a good season without the Europe distraction; we have kept the squad together really well... one or two big signings will set us on a good road to challenge for top four, even this season -- but you cannot let your top players go.

They should certainly pay in that region for their potential future captain.

Otherwise I’ll be happy to see him stay, £30M isn’t going to transform this squad and losing stones makes it worse.

I just do not want to sell the lad. I feel we have nothing to gain, even at £60 or 70 mil.

No way should he be sold this season, & RM has already stated he’s not for sale. So no more quotes from EFC needed.

IF we were to sell now, "£10M short" is rubbish -- Luiz for £50M & "Rio the dope" "I forgot" £30M about 10 years ago!!! -- the price would have to be such that we made a clear profit (i.e.after agents fees & whatever Barnsley would be due) of at least £50M.

("Hi" to Ian from Total Fitness at Wilmslow -- hope you agree!)

Why would anyone wish to leave a club that loves them for some place where the manager is an absolute twit and has no compunction about upsetting one and all -- including his long-serving captain, backroom staff and anyone else that he thinks he can hoodwink or bully?

I suppose to answer my own question the answer must be MONEY!

But isn’t life about more than that?

Our chairman has a history of such lack of common sense or business acumen.

The media are really turning on us aren’t they. Nothing on NewsNow about the great performance at the weekend.

Everton ’ready to sign European assist king after hijacking Tottenham’s £10m deal’

Deal close: Southampton ’on verge of landing £8.5m transfer, Everton will be livid’

Barnsley boss slams Mason Holgate’s Everton switch

Chelsea bid £30m for Stones... but Everton want £40m

Everton set to steal international playmaker from Liverpool and Tottenham

So at the moment we are stealing Players , we Livid with other clubs, Even other Managers are slamming us for bidding a fair price and buying a player.

Wow!

The other strange one why would anyone sell a 21-year-old and replace him with 30-year-old?

Can anyone substantiate who Stones has told he wants to leave? If you watched the game on Saturday, at the final whistle, he and Jags linked arms and walked to the away fans; if that is a player that wants to leave the club, then I am really worried about my marriage -- my missus is always trying to link arms and looks really happy.

Brin... I will give you double your salary to come and work for me... Are you coming? Although we all live in hope of a player having more than money as an influence, it is unfortunately the deal breaker.

Stones has not asked for a move, is he keen? Says who exactly? Some chuff in the London media that seriously thinks Chelsea are as big a club as a Real Madrid or a Barcelona??.. Oh please.

JOHN STONES IS NOT NOT NOT FOR SALE!!!

Now go away, you and your money...

In 5 years time he will be the second Bobby Moore, a legend at Barca and Captain of England; Sterling will be remembered as an expensive mistake.

I love their attempts to make the process seem like a..er... process - like something technical.

I mean Chelsea could save themselves all the effort of 'preparing a third offer' and just phone us and ask 'thirty million?'

But no, instead they are preparing an offer.

OOooooOOOOOoooooohhhh!!

Well even if we lose young John, we can at least look forward to seeing the result of all this preparation.

I'm guessing the offer now (with all the preparation!) could involve a video of some sort.

I imagine a big production, thirty sexy girls, each wearing a tiny bikini and standing in front of wheel-barrow containing a million pounds. The ladies rub themselves provocatively while pointing at the cash (Sale Of The Century hostess-style). There are loads of close-ups of the girls seductively licking their lips while Serge Gainsbourg's 'Je' t'aime' plays in the background.

BK (3rd Sept): 'To be honest, it wasn't so much the offer as how the offer was... prepared'

Not in any way does that scream to me that the player’s head was turned (not alone actually agreed any contract) and that he had already made his mind up that he wanted to join Chelsea at the end of last season as some people will have you believe. If he had decided he wanted to go then we would have sold by now-fact. Even our incompetent board wouldn’t be so stupid as to keep a player all summer knowing another team was interested, insisting he wasn’t for sale and leaving it until the last minute to sell.

Like I said, I don’t know the lad but he doesn’t strike me as being the type of person who would request a move at this late stage of proceedings. From a logical point of view (and I’d hope he would think logically) there is nothing but financial gain to be made to move to Chelsea at this point in his career. Okay, They may win a trophy this season but how influential will he be in winning that trophy? They are in the Champions League and granted that is a big draw for a player of his quality but again, how much will he play in the Champions League?

I think the Terry substitution on Sunday is/was a big ploy on Mourinho’s part. Showing that he’s not scared to substitute his captain to send a message to Stones that he could de-throne Terry which wouldn’t happen this season and also to get the media all in a frenzy about the possibility Terry could be ousted. Typical Jose mind games and manipulation.

Stones will play 40 games this season alongside an experienced very capable England international in Jagielka but will only play a quarter of that for Chelsea if he was to move. A good season with us and a good showing at the Euro’s and he’s worth upwards of £40M so it makes no financial sense for Everton football club to sell at this time.

I never thought we would hold onto Stones this window until the last few days. Martinez keeps saying he will not be sold, and Stones put in one of his performances in an Everton shirt. That does not happen when you are about to leave the club.

£35-40mil would be more than fair for him -- he is a wonderful player but has a fair few mistakes in him. But, if we have some money to spend on our CB and creative mid, then why sell? Where will the money go to improve the team? It will go on another CB, who won’t be as good as Stones. It may go on a creative midfielder. But then where? Our full backs are great. Jags is fine for now. We have plenty of attacking midfield options, and we will not replace Lukaku. We could get a new goal keeper. We could get another striker, but he won’t displace Lukaku. We could get another deep lying mid, but we have signed Cleverley, and still have several at the club.

There is no point in selling, because we won’t spend the money.

Martinez talked about how he didn't want to follow the Saints policy -- and he is right. When we sold Rooney it was pivotal to our future success as a football club, because our squad was terrible. Now our squad is superb, save for the 3 buys Martinez has discussed. Selling Stones will not make us better. It will give us more money, but it won’t improve us as a football club. Keeping him would be a massive statement of intent, and a big fuck you to the manager too often glorified on here -- that prick Mourinho.

Stones will stay. We need to concentrate on bringing in another CB and a creative midfielder this week, and hopefully a striker on loan too.

If Everton can keep up the way they defended and attacked against Southampton and looking at the team spirit that they have been showing together, why would Kenwright & Martinez want to sell any of them? Just tell Chelsea & Co to fuck off, nobody is for sale, and just keep building up the perfect team.

Martinez must know by now that this is the only chance he has got to get things right for Everton; they will put the nail into their own coffins if they sell Stones.

Everton are starting to build a really good team now & looking like a team that can get them back into Europe... hopefully the Champions League this time round

I was very hopeful that John would remain at Goodison for at least a year longer, but as the 'bids' go ever higher, me and many other supporters hopes may be dashed. This is the modern game and we may not like it but as always we have to take it on the chin if JS does leave in this window.

For those that believe our current custodians are doing a great job - let's see what happens to the Stones money if he leaves and how many if any players are recruited on the back of any sale. In our board we trust?

So keep on playing those mind games together
Faith in the future out of the now
You just can’t beat on those mind guerrillas
Absolute elsewhere in the stones of your mind
Yeah we’re playing those mind games together
Projecting our images in space and in time

Yes is the answer and you know that for sure
Yes is surrender you got to let it go

No Surrender -- let Stones remain a figment of Mourinho's imagination.

If it rises to £40m I would rip their hand off despite being hugely disappointed that we lose him as I'd love him to stay and my reason for that is this:

He is an unproven central defender with stacks of potential - certainly the credentials to follow Ferdinand or Terry BUT let's just say he doesn't fulfil his potential - we can't take that risk and we as a club have a classic example of someone like this: Barkley.

There were figures of £30-50m being bounded about a couple of years ago for his potential and on last seasons showing his value would have been lucky to get to £20m (tho he has started this season well).

My point is this: we as a financially stricken club cannot walk away from figures like this for kids with potential. Take the money and move on...

If the player really does want to go then we should demand £50m from Chelsea, Man Utd or Man City. With that money, plus the budget we already have we can make some serious investment in our squad. The only problem with that would be doing it on deadline day, not getting in the players we want and the money disappearing between now and January.

As I said before in another thread, if we lost stones but gained Van Dijk (£8m), Dragovic (£10m), Kagawa (£12m), Yarmalenko (£14m), Lennon (£6m) and Austin (£12m) would anyone be grumbling? Those signings would transform us from a good team into an excellent squad capable of challenging for the Champions League. I just can't see us pulling all those deals off on deadline day.

For that reason I would take advantage of Stones age, the Euro's prospect and his lack of agitation for a move, hold onto him for this season, bring in the three we desperately need with our existing budget and then see where we are next summer. If we have a fantastic season he might not want to leave, but if he does want to go we will be able to demand even more money and can sell to the highest bidder and do our squad building in decent time instead of the last minute.

Stones WILL leave when the right money is offered -- it is only a matter of time... this window, next window, next season...

Only one thing may change this and that is if we qualify for Champions League.

So let us all enjoy John Stones while he wears our team shirt and the better he plays the more we get.

Looking into my crystal ball, I can see the lad going to Barcelona... if he did, I’m sure we would all be a lot happier than him joining Chelsea. He would fit their style of play -- comfortable on the ball, play from the back etc and be joining an even better team than Chelsea.

Apart from that, I can see us nicking 3 points on Sunday!

Robles; Holgate (or Kenny), Stones, Galloway, Garbutt; McCarthy, Ledson (or Walsh); Deulofeu, Barkley, Dowell; Lukaku.

The eldest (Robles) having just turned 30. Maybe none of the young ones will reach their potential, but they all sound promising.

I think the £60 million quoted in players by Drew would finish BK off.... More chance of me attending a Michael Barrymore pool party than that happening.

I never saw Duncan Edwards play but my dad told me he was the best footballer he had ever seen. Players of this calibre are priceless.

What happens if we roll City this weekend? Not beyond the realms of possibility if we play like we did against Southampton. Everything then starts to look very different for everyone - including John Stones.

This could be the turning point in our history that we have been waiting for. We must seize the opportunity.

The board must back Martinez to the hilt on this one and we have to bring the rafters down this weekend.

Oh how I relish the thought of Everton upsetting the apple cart of the Sky 5 and their cronies in the press.

Up the Blues - ramblings from a happy Evertonian.

Let us not forget

Or maybe it was a mystic malfunction to make us think back to the fortunes of United, another of our rivals, after we sold our best player for a decade to them.

We’ve got potentially 3 good centre backs coming through, Browning, Holgate and Galloway.

Accept the money if we have the time to spend it on the players we need this summer. And that would have to be 2 centre backs if he leaves.

Once an offer in the region of £35m+ is on the table a deal will be done and I can’t imagine Stones not wanting to go. Who can blame him, he’ll be going to the champions, playing CL football and will likely end the season with a medal or two -- far more than he’ll get staying at Everton. People saying he won’t play much are wrong imo. He may not start every game but Chelsea will play somewhere in the region of 55-60 games this season so he’ll get a good 25-30 starts if not more, depending on the form of Terry and Cahill. Not far short of the playing time he’d get at Everton anyway.

All the media saying it’s in his best interest to stay, look at the likes of Rodwell and Sinclair at Man City etc are also wrong. It’s simply not the same scenario in this case. First of all Stones is a class CB, just a bit green. Secondly he’s not being bought mainly for the home grown quota, he’s being brought in as a long term replacement for Terry, i.e. he’s being brought in to play and not make up the numbers.

From the lads perspective, football is a short career and you never know which options will come in the future. He may be able to leave next summer but if he has the option now - why not takt it?

From Everton’s perspective, we lose a classy young CB who’s only been at the club for 2 years and make a £30m+ profit which can be used to improve other areas of the squad. Some fans may not like it but that’s life, players come and go. If the £30m brings in 3 quality players then our team is better as a whole (hopefully).

Personally it’s a win win for the club. He stays, great. He leaves we get a massive amount of cash (all be it half of it will go to clear the Lukaku debt to Chelsea).

As long as we have the targets in place to sign should Stones be sold, then I’m okay with that.

I was lucky enough to witness the great years (the '80s) first hand, but also the frustration of the post Heysel wilderness we have suffered.

I felt that I needed to have my tuppence worth on this John Stones situation. I think he will stay, for this season at least. And if he does eventually get sold, it will be on Everton’s terms only, not because some big baby of a manager at Gazprom FC demands even more toys for his collection.

I say this, because of one man: Roberto Martinez. After the public pronouncements of "he’s not for sale", it would be professional suicide on his part if John was sold. Roberto’s position would simply be untenable and it would condemn our club as "also-rans" and make us look very small indeed. I know that the last few years (results, finances etc) suggest we already are "also-rans", but this squad of players, plus a few key additions, is the best squad I have seen since those heady days in the '80s.

Time to make a stand, Everton. Send a message to those parasites in the media and on the King’s Road, that we will not be anybody’s feeder club any more.

One final thought... let’s give Chelsea and especially that "special" one a very WARM welcome next month.

On another note, guys it’s 2015 not 1977 with Benny Hill on TV. Can we please stop all the comments about the women, such as Richard (#49), I haven’t heard the phrase 'fit' since I was at school in the 80s.

The player had said he's happy at Everton. He's not agitating for a move. Roberto has said he's not for sale. The only reason this story is rumbling on is because there's fuck all else to talk about transfer-wise.

If we were to sell him, then I'd be upset if we let him go for less than £60 million. Potential future England captain and a much better player than David Luiz or Raheem Sterling ffs.

I’m going to leave out the emotional side here and look purely at this logically and economically. We cant do much with the money. Say we get £35m -- we are not in the CL so wont be able to buy another 35m player... so it means we dilute the cash to pick up say 2 minimum, but most likely 3 to 4.

I believe we have around £15 - 20m already in our kitty, so what? We are going to buy 5 or 6 players? Lets look at it. Going nowhere are Baines, Jags, Coleman, McCarthy, Barkley, Lukaku, Cleverley. That is 7 players RM will not replace leaving only 4 spots to fill with the windfall. That is clearly excluding Stones, who wouldn’t need replacing if you don’t sell him. So in fact you down to 3. Our kitty can give us 2 of them as is and there is no pressing need to push out Howard and a winger having just signed Deulofeu.

So what is the point?

I’ve said it before.. selling Stones will not win us the league or even get us into the CL any more than not selling him. We need 4 Stones worth of cash before we can think of toppling a bunch of teams milking it for years now with sugar daddies at the helm.

By selling players better than the top teams have, to the top teams, just continues this self fulfilling prophecy of the top teams using their cash to buy assets (players) to make more cash. There is a reason Chelsea will spend £30m on Stones but not £8m on Van Dijk... He is better!

So to break the ceiling you have to keep your better players and add to them as much as you can with players you hope will become players desired by the rich clubs. This means you are gradually closing the gap and trust me... with Stones, Barkley and Lukuka the gap isn’t as big as you might think. Aren’t we in it to win it, or are we happy to make up the numbers?

It's just human nature and also big business.

If Everton can hold out until the window closes then at least they can get a few more months of ''Stones's best''

It all comes down to the lad and his mindset regarding the bigger money and Europe etc. Ambition is a strong motivation when you are young.

He has burst on the scene relatively quickly but no player is irreplaceable and there are many comparable players around but with time running out, Everton could be left in a hole if he goes now.

Think how painful it was/is to see Rooney at Man Utd, for older readers: Alan Ball at Arsenal

Rick Pattinson 14
"provided its spent on quality replacements" This is Everton

Ben Jones 58
"if we have the time to spend it on the players we need this summer" This is Everton

Brin Williams 36
Spot on about the camaraderie...
Jags to Seamus: "just twat it!"

Lukaku and Barkley: seem best of mates, so close Lukaku feels comfortable "pushing" him

Jags and Stones post-match - smiling and joking together; Stones' appears anything but "unsettled"

James Brand 48
Anything can happen, injury-wise, but this lad is like Bobby Moore with pace; the best I've seen at his age, up there with Ratters

Ben Jones 58
"if we have the time to spend it on the players we need this summer" This is Everton

And, Paul Kelly's Dad:
I know how he feels; I've not got over selling Bally
If we let this lad go for short-term profit, I don't think (to take a line from Mick Lyons) losing would hurt as much anymore

He seemed happy to let Fellaini go for £28million.

On the Stones issue, the only problem is we don't know what Billy is thinking, but he is apparently a big fan of our club and manager and Roman is not in theatre (though his histrionic performing rouble monkey clearly is). Should be fun.

If we do end up selling, hopefully we screw the chavs royally and then allow Shiteh or LVG's "project" to gazump them one minute before the deadline with improved personal terms for the lad.

More seriously, I suspect Chelsea is a seriously unpleasant place, with an arrogant manager whose career has been based on nothing but expensive acquisitions which he is happy to throw away as soon as they cease to perform. Chelsea has an enormous number of players out on loan, and I suspect that at least half the motivation for buying Stones would be to get the number of home-grown players up.

If Stones himself thinks he is as good as many of us do, he will do another year with Everton, and then head for Barcelona (with Martinez's blessing?) for serious fame and wealth. If he winds up at the no-class dump in west London, he'll be constantly replaced by the latest Brazilian / Spanish / Argentinian "star" he will have no certainty of success and he can be confident that there will be no team-building round him and his skills.

Has someone sent him ' an open letter ' yet ?

I suspect he'll only go if his head has been turned and he demands to go; which I hope is not the case. But if it is so; we should demand £50M off United or City and put it to bed; so that arsehole doesn't get his man.

How can any football fan want to lose a once in a generation player for a sum of money that none of us will ever see?

Well, I for one will laugh like hell !

We really are not in the situation where just because some swollen benefactor tosses a few bright groats in our direction that we have to hike up Ma Nobletts petticoats for their delectation.

The sheer pleasure that I would get from repeatedly sending them the self same letter would be as good a laugh as I've had from football since Wembley '95. The last occasion that I can recall when the smug drivelling tabloids already had their copy written and filed before most of us had started our journey south.

It does, however, lightly frustrate me that so many of our number on TW appear to dislike the media speculation, and then make their own postulations based upon this drivel. If you don't like the professionals doing it then surely you don't do it for free ?

A senior official at Everton recently told Sky Sports News HQ that "the club have no intention of selling Stones and they have told Chelsea that twice".

There is something certain about (IMO) the John Stones saga. His head has not been turned yet from my point of view. It is simply based on assumption that looking at him on the pitch he seems happy playing alongside the lads.

My main argument is this so called ’charlatan’ did his dirty tactic to sub John Terry on the weekend, pretending that there is room for John Stones if he goes. Stones seems to be reluctant to commit himself to sign for a Champions League club yet due to the lack of playing time. Mourhino does know this, therefore, he started to play his usual game turning the player’s head because he is running out of time.

Another point, see what he did with Varane at Real Madrid. Only played him when it was ’necessary’. Although the lad is such a talent. Only my thoughts on this.

Can you please now stop talking about who Everton are going to sell and concentrate on who Everton are going to buy? Zlatan is available; please spend as much time trying to get Zlatan to Everton as you did trying to sell Stones to Chelsea. Or Coleman to Man United. Or Baines and Barkley to WhoTheFuckEver.

Seriously, our glorious manager and leader both agree each year that CL qualification is our target and yet they handicap us by tying this transfer window debacle to our gonads each and every year. We buy players with 3 games of the season already completed and by the New Year they are ready to function in the Premier League and as part of a cohesive unit. Unfortunately, by then, we are 17th and 15 points adrift of the likes of Stoke, Newcastle and West Ham. Cue a strong finish to the year, finish 7-10th and start all over again.

This growing impatience and anger regarding the lack of transfer activity has caused me to develop a hernia and a facial tic. If we haven't brought in someone decent by this time next week, a minor infarction is on the cards.

If the owners are using the extra Sky money to pay off debt or save for a major infrastructure project, then fine, say so... and let it be clearly listed in the annual accounts. Otherwise, Spend Some Frigging Money, Bill, before I spontaneously combust!!

He WILL leave at some point but I hope it's to Real Madrid/Barca/Bayern next Summer for £50m+

4 points from these 2 games will convince him to stay as we will be ahead of Chelsea going into deadline day and before Chelsea match.

0 points and he will be gone with no chance of UCL or Europa next season at Goodison Park with instability around the club regarding the Manager and Bill’s position with protests and boos.

Chelsea surely look ready to go the distance for Stones as they are putting bids after bids. It will be £60M going into September. Mark my words...

He might only be 21, but he seems like a very clever kid to me. On and off the pitch, Stones, seems to carry himself with class. I wouldn't sell him for £40 Million, no fucking way!

Surely the object is to have the best players in every position.

You can only put 11 players on the pitch so why sacrifice quality for quantity.

The media should be asking Mourhino why he lied not how much Stones will go for.

If WE don't progress enough as a team to keep Stones then he should go to one of the world's best teams. Chelsea don't fall into that category.

No way Jose!
Let's move on..

I'd fly 10 airplanes over Goodison Park if BK sells him.

From Stones's point of view, I wouldn't touch Chelsea. I don't think they're going to win anything anyway this season. Why play second fiddle to Terry, Cahill and Zouma - which he inevitably will? Why subject yourself to Mourinho's egotistical mind games? Yes, of course, money talks but how many Ferraris do you need to buy in one year?

Besides, the Not so Special One will be gone before long - when he's run out of players, referees and doctors to blame. Can't see him hanging around too long when things turn against him.

We have to be very careful. It would send out the wrong message to the likes of Barkley and Lukaku if we sell Stones and do not replace him with equal quality. That is the key if Martinez is serious about building something. Were we forced to sell I would want to see the likes of Yarmolenko, Dragovic and Van Dijk coming in. I don't think we would be any weaker on the pitch in that scenario. Hopefully it doesn't come to that but I can't see us turning down 40m which Chelsea will inevitably bid.

All and sundry saying he will learn a lot at Chelsea!? I've never rated Terry (family are CFC season ticket holders); I watch them live more than EFC (I'm in the south and my son is CFC). I think Chelsea defense will learn a lot from Stones!

To sell now wouldn’t be wise as stated above, we are then looking to replace an irreplaceable defender, and any defender would cost more because we are desperate.

I think most of it is BS paper talk. We don’t (shouldn’t) need the money.

Stay where you are, son; keep on improving by playing every week and you will be the best centre-half in Europe in 12 months.

There is a huge principle involved now whereby people's integrity is at stake. Whatever the bid is from now on we cannot sell JS. We would be made to look like the easy prey by the big bully predator! I don't want to go overboard but we owe it to all the other clubs to make a stand against the bully boy tactics of a Russian mobster and ego maniac manager! A few of my mates who support various other clubs have text me, spoken to me willing Everton not to sell!

It's gone too far now we must stand firm! Plus of course we need him and could never replace him adequately before September 1st.

The same goes for a lot of them really. It breaks your heart to see heroes talk about our club as if we're nothing. Or it would if I cared anymore.

When is someone going to point out that Everton have just had an astronomical TV deal land on their laps and have only spent £5M. Surely to god we do not NEED to sell our finest players.

Football is getting so frigging ugly.

A senior official at Everton recently told Sky Sports News HQ that "the club have no intention of selling Stones and they have told Chelsea that twice".

How about Everton do it in an open letter to Chelsea so everyone can see and the press can bugger off?

That is so so right Stephen.

A key moment...and for me, a key moment whether I will bother with PL football in the future. I also think a key moment for Chelsea... if they cannot by anyone they want ?

And for the pundits - oh my God !

He'll get slated for that too no doubt

The media are going to hate that. wonder if that happens how many penalties we would get or have Off- side goals scored against us. Like the very strange one last night.

Problem with that statement is that it only says what it says - no intention - we don't intend to - no aim or plan to. It doesn't rule out a move.

Likewise "John is not for sale". My wife is not for sale - but if somebody offered enough...

RM- "not for sale under any circumstances" - ok, that's seems definite but let's wait and see. It could mean we give John to Chelsea and they scrub the Lukaku debt and give us another player (ok, I'm in an imaginary world). Thing is, I'm always looking for subtext and what is NOT said that leaves certain possibilities open.

I just have a gut feeling BK and the Board have backed the manager on this regardless of price to send a message.

Wise ?

Well that depends on how we play....as it always does

Too many people in the game, keep saying Stones will go to Chelsea. Just as many people in the game keep saying Everton have got no money.

It won't take long to find the answer now, let's hope we get a pleasant surprise.

Just nonsense

"DO" not sell young players unless they request a transfer, we are trying to build a younger squad and at the moment have some exceptional young players that will require high fees to replace them if sold.

The likes of Stones, Barkley and Lukaku are not young players who come out of youth development every day and must be kept to build a team and not sold to pay down debts.

Whilst I don’t believe the NSNO protest speaks for the majority of match going Evertonians it has put the Board in the spotlight and if they are seen to roll over on this one it will provide further ammunition for the protesters to recruit waverers and could completely derail our season.

By subbing Terry, Mourinho has put a marker down that his place is not guaranteed and sent a message to his Board and to John Stones that there is room and need for new blood. This was quickly followed up by the increased offer.

It will eventually come down to the player because I do believe in this instance we mean what we are saying. Hopefully, John Stones and his agent will realise that a further season with us, in which he will play most games when fit, followed by a good Euros will give him more long term options. From the way he’s handled the situation thus far I don’t think Chelsea is the right fit for him in any case.

We don’t need the transfer money to fund other in comings so my hope is that the Board holds its nerve and John Stones gets his head down and concentrates on improving as a player with us.

The Board is desperate for a win off the pitch to prevent the protests escalating. Keeping hold of John Stones will help.

Yes, we don’t have a billionaire, but very few clubs do. With the right young players and a mix of experienced winners, we CAN challenge for CL. Actually, why not the title in a few years. Our young stars remind me of Belgium. There’s something special happening here, lads ,and selling Stones will be a backward step IMO.

Roberto will want to keep him I don't doubt that, he's always said he only wants players that have the right attitude and character.
What we don't know though are the views of young Stones or our esteemed owners, it seems to me that Chelsea for one will end up offering real silly money.

Galloway looks a lad to me that is destined to make a top player he has that maturity way beyond his years like Stones, and what about Browning!

Can I pay in instalments based on performance...

James 132 can I have some of what you're taking....

So IMO a move isn't imminent unless the chavs put a stupid offer on the table and te club accept it.

Much as Rio was lauded as a ball playing defender, Stones is far superior. Whenever I look at Rio's play, he does the occasional dribble, but he is nowhere in Stones' class, in terms of a ball playing centreback.

Rio was also prone to the lapse in concentration early in his career. What made him do well is how he organizes the defence, his positional play, his imposing frame which makes him hard to to knock off the ball, and of course his pace.

My point is that, Stones has all the potential to exceed all these in our team. Should he be sold, the frame of reference should be as expensive or more expensive that David Luis, Chelsea's ex-defender.

- oh for a pint of Pedigree from the Custom House in Chester (or at least how I remember it from the late 1980s).... I am stuck in a client reception sweating my arse off waiting for a client meeting.

Given how little any of us really know i.e. real facts, it is amazing how much we manage to write on the subject...one thing is for certain, the Clubs statements are quite clear, and quite difficult to climb down from without a near or actual disaster....

Heres a well presented piece from Newsnow.

Says it all really. Chelsea have as much class as (insert answers here)

The only downside is that Stones may jump at the chance to play for either one of the two Manchester clubs, ie based on locality etc.

For the first time in forever I don't believe we're selling. Even Baines I thought we'd cash in...

Hand on heart I don't see Stones leaving.

But this is the third bid isn't it? Or did I miss a meeting?

From a quick scout round the Internet, I've read that Everton are refusing to comment on the this so called £30m bid, and given that this would be bid/rejection number 3, doesn't the above Sky quote have a whiff of bullshit about it? They even use the term 'recently' which harps back to the the rejection of the 2nd bid!

The article above is some bullsh*t I just made up to illustrate how easy it is for these journalists to make up a reasonably convincing story based on hearsay and guesswork. Of course this is a big news story and it is natural we are all going to take a huge interested in the eventual outcome, but nothing we read in the papers should be taken seriously. Sources close to the club? Great line! Nobody is ever named as the source and if the story turns out to be pure fabrication the football 'journalists' are never held to account. All they care about is selling copy and getting web hits.

It can be entertaining but right now they are like a dog with a bone and won't stop until 6pm on the 1st of September. The same applies for the players we are linked with. As nobody at Everton talks about incoming transfers until they are doing their medical it's anyone guess what's going to happen between now and the 1st!

The thing is, there are things going on; Pedro has agreed personal terms with Man Utd and Otamendi is about to have a medical at Man City after the club agreed terms...

The problem is that those things are happening, and don't write half as much copy as pure speculation ;-)

The likes of Barkley being a "True Blue" will probably put his faith in the plan for this season, but Stones isn't a "True Blue" and sees a quicker route to the top and one which will undoubtedly also be far better financially for him.

I suspect he'll give Bob and Bill another week to demonstrate that cash will be supplied and further 2-3 quality purchases will be made. The longer that drags on then the closer Stones will come to ask for a transfer and once that happens he'll be gone in 24 hours. It will take a transfer request to appease Bob because of his no-sale stance.

I think the Chelsea game at Goodison in early September will be a real battle both on the field, in the dugout and unfortunately in the crowd. If Stones moves there is no way Mourinho can play him in that game, in fact I can see Mourinho having a barrage thrown at him (hopefully only verbal) .

It's really sad to see some people say take their money and buy Ashley Williams and/or Ryan Shawcross!! Jesus Christ that is so depressing.

Good article in The Guardian on-line, saying the player is settled and happy at Everton and has NOT expressed any desire to leave. So let the gutter press continue with their speculation and shit stirring and enjoy the show.

How can you stop an ambitious player joining a more successful team on 3 times more money, Champions League, Mourinho, title contenders, blah blah. Sad but reality.

We don't need the money, Stones will be as good, if not better in a years time, everyone saves face, we get to stick it up the tossers from West London, and push Mourinho's words down his throat, the fans stays happy, our squad stays happy, and it's a win win for everyone apart from Chelsea.

If Everton sell I'll be stunned.

Football is a murky world at the best of times and the more people comment and try to analyse it, the funnier it can become.

Just a straight forward official statement from Everton saying ’No sale’ kills it and leaves it up to the player to do a Rooney,Fellaini or Lescott or just carry on. Then we get closure.

Still it keeps our club in the headlines and who knows that elusive billionaire might just think ’I will buy them as that Spanish fella has got some great young talent there.’

Never a dull moment with our lot. After a million years following them nothing phases me now.

UP THE BLUES

It surely wouldn’t be like when we sold Rooney and bought Marcus Bent with the money, I think even Kenwright would accept there would have to be some big name signings with the money. I repeat I would be gutted to see Stones leave but if he stays for this season then he will likely leave next summer anyway (unless we finish in top 4!!).

Plus, he’s ambitious, he’s already moved from Barnsley to a bigger club, do you really think he would turn down a move to the Champions and a three-fold pay rise?

As it stands, he hasn’t submitted a transfer request, or none of his people are talking up the move, so to my mind he’s staying -- only start worrying if Fellani’s dad adopts him.

The only losers are the ’average one’ and the classless club that are Chelsea FC!

Has it worked?! Has his head dropped like Lescott?! No. He's played exceptionally well and with a smile on his face. Hardly like someone who's mind is on playing somewhere else.

The lad will play for at least another season at Everton and then have a great Euros tournament for England.

Much easier for a player to leave it to agents, and media to do the work for them and if the clubs don't agree a move the player can claim 'they never wanted to move from their current great club etc' and they are 'glad the speculation is over etc'. We all know it's bollocks but that's how it's played out many times in the past.

Stones is only 21 and seems very well grounded and deserving of the character praise given to him by Martinez.

Chelsea are desperate and know they’ll have to pay the true value of £40M+ because Stones won’t hand in a transfer request.

My point was don’t sell him at the 12th hour when we have no time to get in considered replacements. I fear we are getting too close to the deadline and we’ll let him go right at the end, which is exactly what I didn't want.

I would also point out what a talent Stones is. At these kind of prices they could have just about any CB on the planet yet they persist in trying to sign Stones.

Kenwright won't sell.

I am encouraged by JS’s attitude and demeanour so far, both on and off the pitch. He is carrying himself very well, unlike Lescott. I think he is an honourable lad and the fact that he signed a long term contract less than 12 months ago will matter to him, as it should.

I expect the club have asked him to give us time, possibly this season and next after which we will co-operate with a move if he wants one, and he will still have big transfer value to us if his progress continues. By that time, Chelsea may be off the scene, and who would regret that, I hate this classless rabble.

I think it’s in John’s hands. If he makes a big play to go, then I think the club will engage with the chavs, but I think John will be making a big mistake.

I doubt Naismith is privy to all of the goings on at the club, certainly not at the boardroom level, but if he had got wind of any discontentment from Stones or strong rumours that we were selling then I very much doubt he would have come out with this kind of statement.

For me the penny has dropped after reading some comments by Evertonians on the Chelsea Holt End (?) fan forum. We can't hope to match the top teams spending power and any money we receive from selling could only be used buying inferior centre backs. They may be decent replacements, but they wouldn't have Stones potential to be great.

If we ever hope to win trophies again our only chance is to keep hold of the likes of Stones and Barkley and add to them with more prospects from our youth teams or by buying up rough diamonds like Holgate, Garbutt, Henen etc... Of course not every young prospect will develop in the same way as Stones, but some will and if we can keep this core of talent at Goodison and add to them year on year we might just get back to where we belong. Selling our brightest stars and replacing them with mediocrity won't work.

Now we have the TV money we can finally stand firm and start to build a team. I believe this was Martinez's plan coming in as he knew there wouldn't be enough in transfer funds to go out and buy the finished articles. That's not to say we can't spend on key positions, but the core of the squad needs to be developed via the youth team and carefully selected talents who will buy into the philosophy because they know they will be given an opportunity at Everton.

I’m not fully aware of the finances, however, I would imagine with all the TV money knocking around BK shouldn’t need the cash.

The biggest reasons JS shouldn't move to that shower are:

1. Jose is antagonistic, is losing support within the club and very likely not going to finish the season as Chelsea manager.

2. JS is on the upcurve into the England squad. He won't replace Cahill, Mourinho won't drop Terry long term and JS could find himself at right back, at best.

3. There is a big rumour going around that Mourinho's agent has already held talks with Bayern Munich. This is not a stable club. It's a capricious entity buoyed by mafia finance.

4. Maybe they'll offer £200 grand per week but it'll cost your soul.

Of course Chelsea have been using underhand tactics to unsettle the player by way of the media but have they gone as far as "tapping him up"? ...... To be honest, nobody knows apart from those directly concerned but, the way Chelsea have conducted themselves, it certainly would not surprise me.

Naisy certainly doesn’t look like someone reading from a prepared script, in fact quite the contrary he seems relaxed and genuine.

It's not for the player to come out and say anything. He's acting in a very professional way like Baines did. What Everton should be doing is having words with Stones's agent to improve the terms of his current contract.

He won't understand the words ’not for sale’, belittles his medical staff seriously then was on a magic mushroom cocktail watching his £m’s bettering a team that fucking battered them from the first minute.

What a fucking fool he has become.

Neil Ashton (good journo) from the daily fail is saying Mourinho is getting hysterical as he thinks his Czar will not sanction a higher bid than £30m and poor Jose is in a strop.

Even the chav fans are starting to say enough is enough and they need to move on. Are you listening Jose?

P.S. anyone else see the pic of JS mucking around with his Everton team mates today? No strop there.

Mourinho starting to make misjudgements; a slow start to this season coupled with a limp to the line at the back end of last season; a distinct lack of youth coming / being encouraged through; questionable success in the transfer market; top players underperforming and a lack of quality back up behind their first 11.

Are you really sure this is the right club for you John?

On another note. I don’t suppose Brent’s Missus can play CB? Surely can’t do any worse than Alcaraz...

Martinez to speak to Stones. " John, do you want to leave for Chelsea? Because if you do we are not selling for less than £40 million, if they do not match that then you are staying sunshine."

Stones... " Yes I do"... Or... "No I don't boss, I wanna stay at Everton."

Then you call a press conference and tell all and sundry where the player and the club stands.

Have Stones attend the press conference and tell everyone what his position is.

Then kick that Portuguese twat in the bollox either way. Big money or Fuck off you odious twat.

To me, we can buy whoever, but until we have a proper business plan in place, sensible proposals for a redeveloped Goodison Park or a new ground, and in charge of our own commercial activities, it will all remain a dream. We need a root-and-branch reform of the club, starting with finding real investment and getting shut of this board.

I hope I'm wrong but it looks like we are just trying to push the price up, to me.

Call a press conference, and sit Stones next to our new signing from Kiev!

But by keeping Stones it sends a very clear message to every player at the club, every ’Sky’ club and more importantly to future transfers: We are building for the future. Perhaps we’re not a threat yet but we will be again.

If we sell Stones, we may as well change our name to Southampton!!

Stones, McCarthy, Barkley and Lukaku are the backbone of a solid squad that have the potential to win silverware. Keep them fit. Keep them at Goodison.

NSNO

No really, David Luiz £50 million. It's still funny.

If we can pull off a result against Man City, we have one hell of a strong arm to counter attack any Chelsea bid.

Winning Sunday could see Stones remain an Everton player; if not, Everton have Chelsea by the balls for a much larger fee.

Sunday will be our biggest game, with so much at stake should we win for players coming in or remaining at Everton.

Win Sunday Everton and kick start our future.

1) Barnsley Will get £4m/£6m
2) We still owe Chelsea most of the Lukaku fee.

Maybe the best way for Abramovich to get Stones would be to buy ... Everton. After all, if the price keeps on rising and rising he will eventually reach the Board's magic figure.

Just trying to be helpful, honest.

In short your comparison is a load of bollocks!

Be careful what you wish for everyone who wants Kenwright out - would you like us to become the Mersey Rentboys with a billionaire owner?

Over to you Stonesy.....you can stay and become an Everton legend - or become an overpaid bench warmer with the Russian Rentboys.

Memorable occasion, or what? Jose, keep your arms and legs in the vehicle at all times.....

Dear Jose,
Fuck off you eternally whinging fuckknacker! Stick your dirty millions up Roman's arse.
Kindest Regards
Everton F.C.

Keeping Stones would be a victory for what, just about, stands for sanity and fairness in the shite cauldron of the premier league.

£40M is a fair amount. How many players got higher than that? Di Maria, Sterling, Torres, Ronaldo, Bale?

Yes, he sold Rooney... but that was out of necessity. Unless Stones puts in a transfer request, it ain"t gonna happen!!

I have said in earlier threads, I believe that RM has sold a dream to the youngsters at Everton and that they have all bough into it. Over the last two seasons, we have seen many of our young star names sign 5-year deals to stay at the club -- not 2, or 3 or 4 year deals mark you - but 5 year deals.

I believe, and I think RM and the young players believe, that we are building something at Everton that money can’t buy. That is a team that is a "team" the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. A team that plays together and plays for each other, honed over several seasons to know each other’s games inside out and which, in two or three seasons, can be as good as any collection of multimillion pound purchased players that are brought together at any given time by any other side.

Stones is an integral part of that dream and that team and that is why he is not for sale at any price and that is why he will stay -- because he believes in what is happening at Everton.

I was impressed that we rejected their bid of £30m instantly, which does tend to indicate we mean what we’re saying as a club. No thinking about it, no hesitation, just a simple rejection, but those morons don’t seem to understand plain English, and are also so arrogant they can’t understand anyone actually standing up to them and rejecting their Russian millions.

I think if we were to cave in now, even to a bid of, say, £50m, it would destroy us as a credible football club, reducing us to a feeble ghost of the great club we were not that long ago. I have a feeling the other clubs in the Premier League are watching us closely, willing us to hold firm against any and all boss for Stones, making a statement that the bug money clubs can’t just bully other clubs out of their best players whenever they feel like it.

The Premier League really needs to look at introducing legislation to prevent the kind of tapping up Chelsea have used in this case, which has been nothing short of blatantly attempting to incite a player to break his contract with his employers, and ensure future dealings between clubs for players not on the transfer list are conducted in private, to prevent the media circus that this case has turned into.

Hopefully, the manner in which they have conducted themselves might have told John Stones one or two things about the club. Mourinho is possibly the most arrogant man in the PL, and needs taking down a peg or two. Let’s hope we’re the ones to do it.

I suspect that JS is torn. He is clearly a level-headed and balanced lad. What’s it to be John? You know the regard you are held in a Goodison. Don’t take us to the wire please.

£40m in the bank, but with only one senior centre-half until January at least is no service to this club that has given you the start in life you craved. Stick with us. It’s the best club in the country by a mile and you can become a true icon here.

Wouldn’t it be nice if this current core of youngsters in our squad could somehow get close to the success of that squad of players?

The only part of this that I like is the current stance of Stones himself. So far he's been immaculate - just keeps on playing to a high standard. He's one of the coolest customers you could ever see. I hope he maintains that and I hope we keep him because he's an impressive young man.

I will be delighted if I am wrong.

You mean he lied? Is there no integrity left anymore?

Good job UEFA all but abandoned Financial Fair Play... wonder if the Premier League will do anything?

I agree, and if it pans out that way, just watch the fan’s vitriol turn onto the board as we are left high and dry short in a key position why they lock themselves away counting the money.

Only decent thing that would come out of this is that Barnsley would get a much deserved windfall.

Even after giving Barnsley their 15% that would still leave us with £34m (wiping out the amount owed on Lukaku plus about £15m of cash in the bank).

http://www.efcsa.org/2015/08/19/john-stones-signing/?

We don't have a pot to piss in and we need money but after we give Barnsley a few bob, will Chelsea demand to knock the Lukaku money off this sale price? Can they do that?

I'll bet his mum and dad are so proud. I would be if he was my son.

Never mind, it's not the end of the world is it? :-)

But if we're going down this road, then after this season, and an England Euro,

I'll be happy to sell and build a stadium with the proceeds.

But I came back from this,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUP_eea7Hcw&index=10&list=PLuVlAHT-36zH9lQ1z9Rr6mBnU1gmKZoHo

It's music but don't worry, guys like me, still LOVE Everton xx

Now they've stooped to using pseudonyms? Now they are even too ashamed to put their names to this? Where is the law of the land? Isn't there any decency left anywhere? The same people who hacked our phones, who constantly print lies, distort the truth, hide behind "unnamed sources" etc....want us to believe this type of garbage? I think it's now time for EFC to start seeking legal advice.

- refused to train/play
- given interviews about playing champ league
- said his head is not 100% to play
- got his agent to talk shit in the media

He has

- played with 110% commitment in every game
- not put in a transfer request

Therefore

The unsettled shit the press keep going on about is geared towards unsettling him...we can sell anyone but stones is the line in the sand...we as a club and for the goid of the non sky 4/5 teams...can not cross not because he is the future of this club but on moral grounds

For the good of the game and this club say No! No ! No...hes not for sale

They are using The Sun or Daily Star as their "source" on this particular one but, as they tend to pool their resources and hunt in packs, it’s the chief correspondent who has to okay this before it’s published.

If it is true they could at least let him officially do so before reporting.

If it is true, I'd tell JS (as Roberto), I can't afford to lose you this summer - it's too late in the window & Chelsea should have come in for you with a serious offer earlier in the window, instead of this derisory £20 m bs they started with, so you can blame them.

You're the second most senior CB we've got, it's too big a risk to let you go now. You can go not summer provided someone meets our valuation.

In their "not so subtle messages" to John Stones (basically every story they’ve been writing), the authors admitted that Everton held all the cards in this scenario, but if Stones were to put in a transfer request; that obviously would change the playing field in Chelsea’s favor.

"Stones" and "file a Transfer Request" has popped up much more frequently in the last few days too, so this shouldn’t be seen as a surprise. This is Chelsea starting to sweat a little bit, in my opinion. This was supposed to have been done by now.

Explain to him that we’re curious as to where this ’unsettled Stones’ story comes from and that his reply will be placed on twitter. I understand that it is on the laughable football spy, but surely he must take some responsibility for this?

Tell him it's £50M or no deal. By season's end, John Stones would be worth more than that.

I have said before we can't spend the money, but let's say we have it... So I tested this and spent some time looking at Transfermrkt site at top valued youngsters.. googled best players under 23 etc with some criteria like isn’t at Bayern or Real etc. the closest I came to was some French kid Laporte who has been linked with Man Utd and is at a club we might just be able to buy from... and is rated as highly as Stones. But truly it was hard going... Then again I don’t have a scouting network.
Others like Stefan de Vrij have recently moved so too late to grab them now...

It would take a miracle for RM to find a replacement that would smooth over the pain we would feel by losing him.

For some reason they believe Everton and Juventus (two historical powerhouses) will bend over to please little rich club Chelsea. Why? Because they believe money can buy anything and anybody. What they don’t realise, in Everton’s case, is that the Sky billions are slowly changing the landscape. We don’t have to sell JS, WBA don’t have to sell Berahino, Southampton don’t have to sell Mane, even QPR don’t have to sell Austin and Juventus certainly don’t have to sell Pogba!!

I understand that Papa Roman wants to keep his spoilt brat of a manager happy, as do his media skivvies, but this is the beginning of a brave new world where no sometimes means just that – NO!!!

A few more days people and this Chinese torture shall be a thing of the past (until December at least) but remember, the media hate being proved wrong so the speculation and outlandish claims will only increase and intensify. Deep breath, everyone.

"John Stones is close to putting in a transfer request at Everton in a bid to secure a move to Chelsea."

Close? what a meaningless statement carefully engineered to avoid being disprovable.

"Chelsea are set to make a stunning £100m double swoop for Paul Pogba and John Stones."

They know that Pogba doesn’t play for Everton right? We can’t give them a 2 for 1 deal.

I’ve been utterly gobsmacked by the anti-Everton approach of the media and their attempts to unsettle the player to get a cheap deal for Chelsea.

Surely a lot of this is illegal in terms of FA rules, wish Stones or Everton would come out and deny any knowledge of a transfer request to show up Chelsea and their gutter press lackeys as the cheap bullies they are.

I will also be very disappointed in Stones, if he has put a transfer request in, as it would totally undermine Everton and make them look like mugs.

I wonder why they continue to link him to Man Utd? As far as I know they’ve never expressed any interest in him. Or is that the Manc in them coming out?

Hold on tight folks, it’s gonna be a fun ride the next few days...

Strange that this story first broke on a CFC website early this week – may not all be Mourinho – don’t forget, a top guy whose name I don’t recall moved from Man Utd to Chelski some years ago – that’s when their dirty tricks got into top gear, straight out of the Fergie guide to using every trick under the sun to get your own way.

We MUST KEEP JOHN STONES for AT LEAST 2 YEARS.
COYB - EFC FOR EVER

Why not? Simple:

1) To do so (unless under instruction from his employers) will undermine his contract position. John and advisors know that’s not in his best interests.

2) Man Utd in the wings are the big threat. If they come in with a seriously big offer, that is a different ball of wax.

3) Behind the scenes, he will be expecting either a big move to Man Utd this summer or sometime after, or next year when the world will be his oyster (if not so already).

Jose has lost the plot and the biased media frenzy, including arsewipe Andy Gray, are as concerned how stupid they will actually look if he stays with us, and the team with the lowest spend record actually breaks the glass ceiling...

’Stones is the outstanding young English player of the future and that’s why Chelsea want to pounce now. You suspect it will take 340m to get it done and for Stones to push to leave. So Chelsea still face a big battle’.

So eager to get their ’opinion’ out there they can’t even be bothered to proof-read it!! £340m?!!! Double it, Jose, and you’re still not getting him!!

To any Game of Thrones fans, I can’t help but relate John Stones to Jon Snow. Maybe a little irreverent, but John Stones staying is as important to our club as Jon Snow living is to GoT.

If John Stones goes, he knows nothing!

Keown’s view was that JS needs to be first choice and be at a place where he is loved by the fans (he added that Everton is a huge club and our supporters pushed him into England reckoning when he was with us).

The most sense I’ve heard from any pundit amidst this whole appalling media frenzy.

Surely he should be saying that there hasn't been a transfer request? After all, you'd assume he would be aware if there had been one?

This is getting stressful.

Every summer, the papers fling out as many names, at as many clubs as they can and even if every single word of a thousand stories is 100% bollocks, well that's....fine.

Or it certainly seems to be.

I mean you never see "Sun journalist Bev E. Merchant shamed for inventing transfers" or "Mirror man Al K Holick admits 'I made it all up'" or "Mail sports correspondent C. Nillatee admits to feeling 'a right twat' for his 'Messi on his way to Stoke for £8m!!' story"

It would be great if there was one of those 'Statto' types 'out there' who collected every story from the start of a transfer window to the end and could then (after the window closed) announce the 'winner' (which could then be announced/posted on every supporter site in the country).

I know most of these rags exist in a morals-free vacuum and the idea of shame is completely alien, but would any paper want to finish top of the BTSL? *

(*bullshit transfer story league)

Another example of the press re-wording quotes to try to manipulate the situation. I for one am confident that Stones is going nowhere.

Along with Big Nev, the only bit of sense I’ve heard on the never-ending saga.

I'm worried though by the wording used by RM in his press conference – it’s hardly a reassuring hands off.

We need to dig in as a club here. I’d rather not sign anyone else this window than lose Stones. For me, lose Stones and lose interest.

Players have a loyalty bonus built in the sale fee in order to gag them asking for a move.

If the player puts in a transfer request the fee is worth another ~10% to the club.

So the player may want to leave and not put in a transfer request then you get the brinkmanship we are seeing now where the club are trying to drive the price up.

You’ll probably see Stones put in a transfer request with a few days to go.

Danny, I hadn't seen the press conference, just the reports. I have believed all along that he will stay, but my faith is beginning to buckle.

It really is a defining moment. A battle we have to win.

The 'awareness' line was what the journalist asked, a leading question.