Barcelona Transfer News: Latest on John Stones and Marc Bartra Rumours

Barcelona are reportedly ready to start the bidding at £25 million in pursuit of Everton centre-back John Stones, with a clutch of clubs said to be interested in the 22-year-old.

That’s according to Simon Jones of the Mail on Sunday, who stated the Spanish champions have turned their attentions to Stones after giving up on Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos. Manchester United and Manchester City are also said to be interested in the centre-back, who has been tipped for a bright future in the game despite a testing 2015-16.

While the Blaugrana are said to be ready to make the first move, Jones noted that Everton value their defender at £45 million, meaning an initial offer is unlikely to trigger a sale.

It’s easy to see why Stones would be on Barcelona’s radar. While there have been question marks about some defensive facets of his game, where he excels is in coming out from the back with the ball, picking passes into midfield and getting attacks going. For the way in which the Blaugrana play, he’d potentially be a perfect presence in the back line.

Under the guidance of former Everton boss Roberto Martinez, there were some hairy moments for the player, as the Toffees opted for a cavalier brand of football. The Liverpool Echo’s Tony Scott noted a difference in Stones’ play in a more balanced England team:

The contrast in John Stones on the …

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