London: Everton have snubbed Chelsea’s £26 million (Dh149 million) bid for John Stones, with the Premier League champions now expected to return a third time for the defender. The fresh offer was immediately rejected yesterday (Wednesday), but Chelsea remain confident of landing Stones before the summer transfer window shuts. It is understood that, despite Everton’s insistence that the England international is not for sale, Chelsea will have to pay around £34 million to capture him. In addition to rejecting Chelsea’s second bid for Stones, Everton are determined not to sell midfielder James McCarthy to Tottenham, whom the Merseyside club view as a direct rival.
Meanwhile, Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini has suggested that Jose Mourinho, Chelsea’s manager, acted out of character this summer by accepting the “good favour” that Roman Abramovich did Arsenal over the sale of Petr Cech.
The Chelsea owner personally sanctioned the goalkeeper’s £10 million move to a direct rival, against Mourinho’s previously stated wishes. “I was surprised by Mourinho because he really doesn’t do that,” Flamini said.
