Manchester United could offer Phil Jones plus cash to Everton to procure John Stones

Sure he's a good player but is John Stones willing to crawl across the 18-yard box and head the ball while it's on the ground? Phil Jones is.

But it looks like the unorthodox defending of Jones is not what Manchester United are after this season as reports emerge that Louis van Gaal is considering offloading the centre-back to Everton. After John Stones handed in a transfer request earlier this week, Manchester United jumped back into the race for Stones' signature as they attempted to hijack Chelsea's move for the young defender. With only five days remaining in the transfer window, Roberto Martinez may be more willing to allow Stones leave if he has a readymade replacement to join his back four and ESPN's Miguel Delaney reports that United could make Jones that man. Jonny Evans was rumoured to be on his way to Everton earlier this summer before the deal fell through but it appears that a different United defender could be about to swap red for blue. Prepare yourselves Goodison for more gurning than you could ever have imagined.