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Chelsea target John Stones should stay at Everton for another year, says Peter Taylor

Image: John Stones would be better off holding out for one more season, says Peter Taylor

John Stones would be better off staying at Everton for one more year despite Chelsea’s interest in the defender, says Peter Taylor.

Everton this month rejected the Premier League champions' initial £20m offer for Stones, who represented England Under-21s at the European Championship in the Czech Republic.

And Taylor, a former England Under-21 manager himself, believes that while Chelsea and Jose Mourinho would be hard to turn down, playing regularly for the Toffees would aid his development.

Jose Mourinho of Chelsea and John Terry of Chelsea
Image: But the lure of Jose Mourinho and John Terry would be hard to resist, Taylor admits

He told Sky Sports: "I would say at the moment probably staying at Everton if he's guaranteed a first-team place, for John's education and progression he's probably better off staying at Everton.

"But who would ever turn down going to work for Mourinho? Especially on the defensive side of it, being in the same changing room as John Terry.

"He's going to improve either way, but at the moment maybe if he could hang around for another year, play 38 league matches for Everton.

Fabian Delph of England runs with the ball
Image: Fabian Delph will improve at Manchester City, says Taylor

"I think he would be a better player at the end of the season."

Taylor also believes England international Fabian Delph’s move from Aston Villa to Manchester City will not hamper his development, despite not being guaranteed as many starts as he would at the Midlands club.

Delph faces competition from Yaya Toure, Fernando and Fernandinho in the centre of Manuel Pellegrini’s midfield, but Taylor says Delph has enough about him to make the move worthwhile for his future.

"Delph has got enough confidence in himself to suggest he'll get ahead of those players. He's a different type, and it provides a nice blend for Manchester City.

"I would still say that's a good move for him, because I still think there's more in the tank for club and country."

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Delph was taken off after just 18 minutes on his debut for City with a hamstring injury