Report: Chelsea ramp up pursuit of Everton's Stones with 2nd bid

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has his eyes set on one player and one player only: Everton central defender John Stones.

Everton reportedly declined Chelsea's first bid of £20-million, but the Premier League champions have apparently ramped up their pursuit of the 21-year-old defender's signature. The club is set to place a second bid of £26 million for Stones, according to Peter O'Rourke of ESPNFC.

Mourinho has made no secret of his desire to sign the 21-year-old Everton defender, and was defiant in the face of criticism over the public manner of his courtship. Fueling the club's media-savvy approach to negotiations for this deal, defender Gary Cahill heaped praise on Stones, his teammate for England.

"Stones is a great player," Cahill told Sky Sports News HQ. "I've seen him in the Premier League, especially last season. I have seen him up close and personal and I've trained with him with England and he is a top young player. Of course he is still young and of course he is still learning in many aspects, but in terms of potential he is fantastic.

"The manager, scouts and coaching staff make the decisions but he would be a great addition if it happened."

Chelsea is currently in the middle of preseason preparations ahead of the start of the 2015-16 Premier League season. Cahill and his teammates are learning to adapt to the team's newest star player, Colombian forward Radamel Falcao.

The club is also looking to offload Brazilian fullback Felipe Luis after just one season at Stamford Bridge.

In the midst of multiple big-money signings this season, Mourinho isn't feeling any guilt about spending and receiving huge transfer fees. He says no one is forcing any club into paying a pretty penny for young talent.

"That is the market," Mourinho said. "And you only pay it if you want. If you don't want to pay it, don't pay. It's as simple as that."