Chelsea will return with an improved bid for Everton John Stones

Chelsea will return with an improved bid for Everton defender John Stones, insists the Daily Mirror’s football correspondent Darren Lewis.

The Blues have tabled two offers, worth £20m and £25m respectively, for the England international, only to see both knocked back by the Toffees who remain adamant the player is not for sale.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is looking to strengthen at centre-back with captain John Terry in his twilight years and Gary Cahill breaking his nose last week, and Lewis is convinced the Blues will not be deterred by their rebuffed attempts for Stones thus far.

“We all know about the pursuit of John Stones. Chelsea will go back in for him – they are desperate to get that player,” Lewis told Kick Off.

“They like him, they think he’s very talented and he’s a long term successor to John Terry. They are convinced of possibly managing to do a deal.”

While Everton manager Roberto Martinez has reiterated his desire for Stones to remain at the club, it is believed a bid north of £30m could tempt the Toffees into sanctioning a deal.