Report: Everton rejects Chelsea's £20-million offer for John Stones

Chelsea will have to come back with an improved offer after seeing their audacious approach for Everton defender John Stones get rejected.

Everton turned down a £20-million offer from the Premier League champions for one of England's brightest defenders, according to Sky Sports.

It's a smart approach from Chelsea considering captain John Terry is in the twilight stage of his career and Stones, 20, is developing into one of the Premier League's most promising defenders.

But Everton obviously rate him highly and will demand a much bigger offer before considering parting way with Stones.

Stones, who arrived at the Merseyside club in 2013 from Barnsley, played an important role in Everton's back line last season. He started 23 games during Everton's 2014/15 campaign and appears set to play another important role in defence this upcoming season.

Thanks to his emerging profile in England as one of the country's top defender's, Stones made his senior debut with the English national team during a match against Peru in 2014.