Chelsea target John Stones would improve as a player under Jose Mourinho, according to the Everton defender's former teammate and mentor Bobby Hassell.
Everton are braced for an improved offer from Chelsea for Stones after turning down an initial £20 million (Dh113.8m) bid and ex-Barnsley defender Hassell said a move to Stamford Bridge would not daunt the 21-year-old England international.
“I could see him going to play for Mourinho and getting even better,” Hassell told Press Association Sport.
“Natural defending is what Mourinho is a master at and John’s got everything else – if he was a foreign player everybody would be raving about him.
“He’s that good on the ball, he’s quick and so comfortable in possession.
“He’s a good kid and a level-headed lad. He’s from Barnsley and his parents are good people so he’ll deal with the pressure that will come his way, unlike a lot of other lads.”
Hassell, who had his Barnsley testimonial last weekend against another former club Mansfield, helped nurture Stones when he made the first-team breakthrough at Oakwell at the start of the 2012/13 season.
Everton had seen enough potential just halfway through that season and paid £3m for Stones the following January.
“I played with John and was his mentor alongside Stephen Foster,” Hassell added.
“We’re still good friends and I’ve just texted to wish him all the best if he does go to Chelsea.
"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.
“Not everyone saw a world-class defender there – he might not be yet, he’s still got a lot to prove.
“But for a modern-day footballer he’s got everything – 6ft 4in and very athletic, very quick, loads of stamina and so good on the ball.
“It’s his athleticism that sets him apart. In the Premier League players coming through at 18 are no better than those in the Championship ability-wise.
“But they’re complete athletes, quick and tall and John is all of that.”
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6
Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm
Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km
Price: Dh375,000
On sale: now
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
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Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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The biog
Name: Mariam Ketait
Emirate: Dubai
Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, experiencing new things, painting, reading, flying, and the French language
Favourite quote: "Be the change you wish to see" - unknown
Favourite activity: Connecting with different cultures
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5