Chelsea target John Stones has handed in a transfer request, the BBC has confirmed this evening. The Everton defender, who has represented England at senior level, had been subject of a number of rejected bids from the Blues, the latest of which being a reported £35 million. Stones, 21, arrived at Goodison Park from Barnsley in the winter transfer window of 2013, costing the Toffees £3m. Everton manager Roberto Martínez had suggested earlier this week that no transfer request had been submitted by Stones, and Stones' Everton colleague Romelu Lukaku, himself once of Chelsea, had urged his team-mate to stay at the Merseyside club. Chelsea had today been linked with Zenit St-Petersburg defender Ezequiel Garay after it seemed the Stones transfer was dead in the water, but after the Russian club suggested no enquiry had been made for the defender, this all seems a ploy to force Stones into action. Whilst the transfer request can be blocked by Toffees chairman Bill Kenwright, the fact the England international has demonstrated his desire to leave the club and join the Blues may force Everton's hand and encourage them into a quick sale with the transfer window close to its conclusion.