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Mentor: 'John Stones would improve at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho'

By Tom Nightingale, Reporter | 24 July 2015

John Stones's former Barnsley teammate Bobby Hassell believes that the defender would reach even greater heights if he made the switch to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea target John Stones would improve as a player if he were to play under Jose Mourinho, according to his former teammate and mentor Bobby Hassell.

Earlier this month the Premier League champions had a £20m offer for the England international rejected by Everton.

Hassell, who helped nurture Stones at Barnsley before the youngster joined Everton in January 2013, believes that the 21-year-old would fit in well at Stamford Bridge.

"I could see him going to play for Mourinho and getting even better," Hassell told PA. "Natural defending is what Mourinho is a master at and John's got everything else.

"He's that good on the ball, he's quick and so comfortable in possession. When he was 15 I said to people at Barnsley he would go on to play in the Premier League and for England and they laughed.

"He's a good kid and a level-headed lad. He'll deal with the pressure that will come his way, unlike a lot of other lads."

Hassell is the latest person to talk up Stones's ability, with Everton chairman Bill Kenwright and Chelsea centre-back Gary Cahill also lauding the defender.