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Ezequiel Garay to Chelsea: Zenit St Petersburg insist defender is not for sale if Blues seek John Stones alternative

Russian club insist their star defender is going nowhere this summer

Samuel Stevens
Wednesday 26 August 2015 16:39 BST
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Chelsea are believed to have opened talks over Zenit defender Garay
Chelsea are believed to have opened talks over Zenit defender Garay (Getty Images)

Zenit St Petersburg have informed Chelsea they will resist any attempts to sign Ezequiel Garay if the Blues fail in their efforts to sign John Stones from Everton.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Garay is represented by super-agent Jorge Mendes - whose other clients include Jose Mourinho, Radamel Falcao and Diego Costa - but the Russian club are insistent the defender is going nowhere.

Chelsea are expected to return with a £40m offer for Stones in the coming days after the England defender reportedly handed in a transfer request at Goodison Park on Tuesday.

The Premier League champions are seeking a long-term replacement for skipper John Terry but have been forced to act quickly after the former England captain was sent off during the 3-2 win over West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.

The dismissal followed an unprecedented decision by Mourinho to substitute Terry at half-time as the Blues were defeated 3-0 by Manchester City a fortnight ago.

Stones signed for Roberto Martinez's men from Barnsley in 2013 and has since made 47 appearances for the club.

Footage has since emerged of Everton director Jon Woods reassuring a supporter that Stones will not be sold to Chelsea but that was before the presence of a transfer request.

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