John Stones to Chelsea: Willian sure to anger Roberto Martinez after talking up 'reliable' Everton defender

Despite failing with four bids this summer, Chelsea are still keen

(Getty)

Chelsea forward Willian has risked angering Everton manager Roberto Martinez after talking up English defender John Stones.

The Blues, who are on the verge of signing Papy Djilobodji from Nantes for around £2.7m, have been linked with Stones all summer and have had four bids - the latest worth £38million - rejected by Everton; Jose Mourinho and the club hope to sign the player in the future.

Earlier this summer Martinez expressed his anger at Chelsea's open pursuit of the talented 21-year-old, stating that he would not do business that way, and that it was unfair that the window remained open after the season has started.

"We wouldn’t speak about a player that is at another club and there is no issue from our point of view; John Stones is an Everton player, full stop," Martinez said in July. "We are not a selling club in that respect. There is nothing to speak to John about. I always speak with the players, but there is nothing to comment about."

But speaking to Goal, Willian has called Stones a "good" and "reliable" centre-back and says that a move is not yet dead despite the latest rebuttal.

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"He is a good defender," said the Brazilian. "I heard some news - of course there is nothing concrete, but I've heard about it.

"It is obvious that he is a good defender, but we do not know yet whether he will come or not. But we also have good defenders here in our team.

"Last season, our defenders did an excellent season, but he is a reliable defender, so, if he comes, he will surely come to help us and to strengthen us even more."