Real Madrid have joined the race to sign John Stones after Rafa Benitez urged the club to snap up a player who he believes is one of the best young defenders in Europe.
Benitez, who was Real Madrid manager until last Monday when he was replaced by Zinedine Zidane, marked the club’s card over Stones last summer when he took over.
Madrid intend to carry the interest through although Benitez’s departure means it is unlikely to happen in January.
Real Madrid have joined the race to sign highly rated Everton central defender John Stones
Madrid willing to spend big with Pepe turning 33 next month and likely to find a new home in the summer.
Rafa Benitez urged the club to snap up a player who he believes is one of the best young defenders in Europe
Barcelona also want the 21-year-old but they do not have the funds to meet Everton’s asking price. They have been trailing Stones since 2014 but with so much financial muscle being assigned to keep Leo Messi and Neymar from the clutches of the Premier League they cannot pay the 40m pounds asking price.
Madrid in contrast are willing spend big with the veteran Pepe turning 33 next month and likely to find a new home in the summer. As well as needing a new centre back Real are also without a defensive right-back and Stones would fit both positions.
Everton fought off interest from Chelsea last summer when Jose Mourinho made him his priority in the transfer market. Everton rejected three rising bids the last of which was understood to be 30m pounds.
Real Madrid's new French coach Zinedine Zidane (C) looks at his players during Friday's training session
Zidane intends to carry the interest through although despite Benitez’s departure
Zinedine Zidane (C) gives instructions to (L-R) Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Pepe
They would prefer to sell abroad and could ask as much as 40m pounds for the England international. A sale to Madrid would be good news for Barnsley who are due 15 per cent of any transfer having sold him to Everton in 2013 for 3m pounds.
Madrid have a potential transfer ban hanging over them but the club believe even if they are banned for two transfer windows they could appeal forcing back the start-date of the ban as Barcelona did. That would still allow them to sign players in the summer.
Fifa opened investigations into their signing of under-18s and they have been warned that if they are found to have contravened Article 19 of Fifa’s transfer rule book they will receive the same two transfer window ban that Barcelona have just finished serving.
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