Rumoured John Stones

[Tomo 21,751]

My problem isn't his price, but the actual quality of the player. I don't see the point of buying a CB who is apparently inferior to Cahill. If I'm not mistaken, he's been 4th choice CB for England in the past year or so. I'd get someone who would take Gary's spot rather than a player who can become better in the future. Zouma is supposed to be that player and he's already here.

Jason has pretty much covered my response.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

I'm confident we'll get him. We made a mistake choosing Filipe Luis over Shaw last summer, can't see us repeating the same mistake.

[Rapkun 668]

Love Stones. Truly one of the most promising young english players who for once deserve all the hype around him. He's also everything we want in a center back. He's fast, he anticipates and reads the game well, proactive but most importantly extemely comfortable with the ball at his feet.

I know the asking price is relatively high but he's a very complete young english defender with his best yet to come. We will be overpaying now but possibly secure the signing of a world class defender for the next ten years. If we pass on him now, there are very little chances that we find an english CB as good as him.

Zouma is an interesting player but I dont feel confidence and maturity in his game yet as do I with Varane or Stones and he's very limited with the ball mostly just getting rid of it when he has it. I'm hoping the board will make this happen

[The Skipper 20,609]

My problem isn't his price, but the actual quality of the player. I don't see the point of buying a CB who is apparently inferior to Cahill. If I'm not mistaken, he's been 4th choice CB for England in the past year or so. I'd get someone who would take Gary's spot rather than a player who can become better in the future. Zouma is supposed to be that player and he's already here.

Stones has a much, much higher ceiling than Cahill ever did. He's already better than Cahill in certain areas of his game i.e. his ability on the ball and pro activity. He can also play RB very adequately. He's a proper complete defender. Would be a nice signing - hopefully he and Zouma become our new partnership in the future.

[Parky 739]

Im optimistic we will sign him but it will be a protracted ordeal. I have a suspicion Man Utd will try as well if their pursuit of Ramos fails..

[Strike 7,475]

Ricardo Carvalho? Rio Ferdinand? Silva? Explain to me what you're implying again?

Implying you'll always get good defensive players on the cheap. No defender is worth splashing 30m on.

[Stats 7,140]

I'm confident we'll get him. We made a mistake choosing Filipe Luis over Shaw last summer, can't see us repeating the same mistake.

Whilst Shaw was a massive Chelsea fan growing up he would have joined United anyway because they offered him huge wages for a start and the promise of first team football. Shaw would have been in the same predicament as Luis.

On a different note, would be interesting to see what happens with Zouma if we do buy Stones. Although he impressed when he came in the team last season, he is still raw, especially technically but he is a great prospect and if we get Stones, his game time this season will be questionable. Maybe a loan to another Prem team where he is guarantee first team football on a regular basis would be benficial. Because if things go to plan, him and Stones could be our CB pairing for a good number of years.

[lionsden 4,689]

I'm amazed at how many people do not rate Stones. It's perplexing actually how anyone can watch him play regularly and still consider him average and nothing special. I am curious to know which young defenders you all rate' higher than him in Europe. Varane is the only defender that's arguably better and that's it. I think some people are taking the "English talent are overrated" generalization/stereotypical view too far.

A Defender that combines the ball playing ability of a Hummels/Luiz with the defending ability of a top class defender are very rare and Stones is one of them.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Stones is a good defender, and he's english. Let's get him before we get to a point where we have no english players in our starting lineup.

26mil + a player on loan should do it. English players are the most expensive because of the homegrown quota, especially if you approach a club who don't need to sell (Carroll, Sterling, welbeck )

[DYC. 7,542]

England's CB duo isn't impressive but one could simply argue that Hodgson simply prefers the more experienced players, regardless of their talent. Whether that is right or not is another debate but should also remember that, different player develops differently. Varane is something of an anomaly, if you like and if you don't think Mourinho would pick Stones over Cahill, then look at Zouma last season. Only got international recognition recently and he's probably for the 4th choice CB for France right now but that did not stop Mourinho from selecting him ahead of Cahill.

Think it's highly questionable to say Smalling and Jones are far better players now than they were 4 years ago. Don't think they have progressed much considering with the all injuries and constant changes at United - both on and off the pitch - in recent years.

There's no suggestion that our transfer business will stop if we get Stones. The club sees him as the replacement for Terry and is pursuing him before United, City or anyone else get him.

That doesn't make sense. The experience is supposed to make you better. You can't look at Stones and say he's better, but I'll pick Cahill or Smalling because they have more experience, even though they are inferior. But I guess we'll have agree to disagree.

Mourinho did pick Zouma over Cahill, but that was only a couple of times, and more importantly, when Cahill's form dropped. It didn't take long for him to revert back to Cahill so he's comfortably ahead of Zouma in terms of first XI status. It even got to the point where Zouma would play with Terry and Cahill on the pitch. And Zouma was always known, playing first team football since he was teenager and all.

Stones has a much, much higher ceiling than Cahill ever did. He's already better than Cahill in certain areas of his game i.e. his ability on the ball and pro activity. He can also play RB very adequately. He's a proper complete defender. Would be a nice signing - hopefully he and Zouma become our new partnership in the future.

Again with the potential and ceiling. That was never my point. I'm talking about right now. I'd just like a CB better than Cahill, taking over for Terry in the near future as the new defensive rock. It's rare for CBs to play at a world-class level before the age of 25/26. Terry and Carvalho were 23/24 and 26/27 in 04/05 and we were very lucky to see a world-class duo that was still young, mostly in JT's case but he's simply awesome.

[Chelsea4 1,521]

Stones wants Chelsea move as Mourinho prepares improved £28m bid. ( Goal ). http://dlvr.it/BYmsxy .

[Jase 43,479]

That doesn't make sense. The experience is supposed to make you better. You can't look at Stones and say he's better, but I'll pick Cahill or Smalling because they have more experience, even though they are inferior. But I guess we'll have agree to disagree.

How does it not make sense though? Some managers do prefer the comfort of having players with experience in their starting XI over ones without experience, even if they are talented. Some likes to go with less risk and pick players who have the know-how to deal with dangerous situations.

Mourinho did pick Zouma over Cahill, but that was only a couple of times, and more importantly, when Cahill's form dropped. It didn't take long for him to revert back to Cahill so he's comfortably ahead of Zouma in terms of first XI status. It even got to the point where Zouma would play with Terry and Cahill on the pitch. And Zouma was always known, playing first team football since he was teenager and all.

You are right about that but Mourinho showed no hesitation in benching Cahill for Zouma when needed to. Other managers could easily just persist with Cahill and hope he regains his form. Cahill might be first choice but the situation showed his position is far from secured.

[Madmax 9,219]

Absolute no brainer for me, even if we have to chuck in the extra £5m or so. Things like current playing time for him and Zouma won't matter in the long run when we've secured our CB partnership for the next 10 years.

[didierforever 7,349]

why do people keep saying the phrase "CB partnership for 10 years". when has jose played with 2 21 year old CBs as his CB pairing. carvalho in his first stint, lucio in his inter time, pepe/carvalho in RM, JT now. jose always prefers an experienced CB, a CB who can manage the defence. which one of zouma-stones would be doing that? which one of them will be holding the defence together.

[Special Juan 28,111]

Some reports saying he wants the move and talks with the Everton chairman are in the offing.