Reports are coming in that Chelsea may be set to bid £34m for John Stones. Whether you agree an inexperienced centre back poached from Barnsley 2 and a half years ago is worth that amount yet or not, he is an unbelievably valuable asset to Everton. People frown upon the modern day market for players and rightly so, but people who quaff at the prices being mentioned regarding Stones are wrong. And here’s why:
Not only is he already establishing himself as one of Everton’s best and most important players already, but he has massive potential to improve and be one of the best centre backs in the Premier League for the next decade. I look at him as a very modern, accomplished and confident centre half. He has the right mentality, is incredibly composed on and off the ball and is very solid, with the legginess to recover well to make last-ditch challenges. The talent makes him valuable, but the potential at least doubles that value; it really is huge.
He also has plenty to go on a long-term contract so there is no rush for Everton to sell, unlike Liverpool recently with Sterling. If Everton sold Stones, even for a good chunk of £30+ million, it sends out the wrong message. You can’t keep selling your best players and expect to progress. If they sold him, who are they going to replace him with? No-one better than Stones. How will Everton convince a better or equally talented player to come if they’re selling their best players and aren’t a Champions League club?
Yes they could improve other areas of the pitch but how long will it be then before someone like Barkley or the next young talent is poached and a rebuilding of a position starts all over again? It’s hard to stop sometimes with player-power these days but Stones isn’t stamping his feet and demanding to be sold, so keep him. He’s already got a lot of talent and has the potential to be one of the top centre backs about so he’s definitely someone to keep. It’s not like he’s only got 2 or 3 years left, there’s 10-15 there yet. Everton aren’t going to do any better than him. He’s a must keep, no matter what. The right message has to be sent out- it could even define Everton’s mood going into the season, for fans and players.
