John Stones will be at centre of a £50m transfer scramble in the summer, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City and Chelsea all keen to sign him.
Everton turned down the opportunity to sell their highly-rated centre half last summer, rejecting a £38million bid from Chelsea.
But the interest in Stones has intensified since then, with Rafa Benitez having asked Real Madrid to sign him when he was manager at the club.
Though Benitez has since been sacked, Real Madrid have maintained their interest and plan to move in the summer if an appeal against their FIFA transfer ban means that their embargo on signings is lifted.
But Barcelona are now also monitoring Stones, though may baulk at the £50m price and Manchester City, who are planning for Pep Guardiola’s reign at the club, also want to sign the player and have already demonstrated their willingness to pay huge sums for top English talent.
City have struggled in central defence with Vincent Kompany often injured while Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi have failed to justify their fees thus far.
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