Everton make Ashley Williams enquiry
By Merseyside correspondent Cam Downes
Everton have made an approach for Swansea defender Ashley Williams as they prepare for the possible exit of John Stones,
Football Insider
sources understand.
Chelsea are poised to make a third bid for Stones after having two offers rejected for the defender. Everton manager Roberto Martinez has insisted that the England international will not be sold but
Football Insider
understands that the Merseyside club have made a move for Williams after identifying him as a replacement. The 30-year-old Swansea captain has three more years remaining on his contract and is rated at the £5million mark by the Welsh outfit. Everton's pursuit of the centre-back follows Jose Mourinho's shock decision to substitute John Terry at half-time of Chelsea's 3-0 defeat at Manchester City on Sunday. The Premier League champions have had two bids rejected for Stones, and
. Chelsea have been encouraged by Stones' private stance that he is attracted by the idea of moving to west London, in stark contrast to him being quoted as saying he does not want to leave Goodison Park. The Londoners have identified Stones as the long-term successor to Terry and remain determined to make him the most expensive English defender in history. The current record is the £30 million that Manchester United paid Leeds United for Rio Ferdinand in 2002. Everton have been antagonised by Mourinho's public pursuit of the player but, despite their insistence that Stones is not for sale, a £33m bid could be enough to secure his signature before the end of the window.
Football Insider
revealed in June that
, who is widely regarded as a future cornerstone of the national team. Terry signed a one-year contract extension at the end of last season but turns 35 in December and is in the twilight of his career. Mourinho's public condemnation of Terry's performance against City has been interpreted in some quarters as a signal to the Chelsea board to make a stronger push for the Everton man.
Stones has attracted attention for his polished displays for Everton since joining from Barnsley in a £3m move in January 2013, aged 18. With four years remaining on his contract, the Merseysiders do not want to lose a player who has developed rapidly during his 15 months in the first team. But they have begun identifying alternatives, who include Manchester United's Jonny Evans in addition to Williams.
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