Chelsea plot next move for John Stones after Everton knock back latest £25m offer... while Arsenal look set to beat Manchester City to French kid Ismael Bennacer

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Everton have rejected Chelsea's latest £25million bid for John Stones.

The England defender was informed of the offer being turned down on Tuesday prior to playing in Everton's 2-0 friendly win over Dundee. Stones remains relaxed about the situation although it is understood he is interested in the move to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea will now consider whether to make another bid, but are only willing to offer a maximum of £30m for the 21-year-old, while Everton will push for a cash plus player deal. 

John Stones, who got to grips with Dundee's Luka Tankulic in pre-season action on Tuesday (right)

Everton remain in the market for at least one centre back and want someone with pace. They have been linked with Dynamo Kiev's Aleksandar Dragovic but Roberto Martinez is weighing up other options and Celtic's Virgil van Dijk is among them.

Martinez wants to bring in three new players including a striker and playmaker and is battling to keep hold of West Ham target Kevin Mirallas and James McCarthy too.

Tottenham and Everton have held tentative talks over McCarthy but no bid has yet been placed for the influential 24-year-old.

Everton are desperate to keep Stones and midfielder James McCarthy (right) at the club

One is inevitable, however, with Mauricio Pochettino keen to sign the Republic of Ireland international.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has been on holiday in Miami but is joining up with the squad in Colorado to discuss Pochettino's transfer targets.

They continue to evaluate players in Germany but have reservations about West Bromwich Albion's Saido Berahino.

Arsenal look to have beaten Manchester City to French youth international Ismael Bennacer.

The 17-year-old from Arles Avignon was due to sign a three-year deal with City this month, however, Arsenal have stepped in and offered a longer contract of five years for the midfielder which he is expected to agree.

Ismael Bennacer (left, in action for France Under 18s) is a target for both Arsenal and Manchester City

Bennacer made six Ligue 2 appearances last season for his club.

Arsenal have also snapped up Ajax academy prospect Donyell Malen. The 16-year-old, who has been capped by Holland at Under 17 level, can play anywhere across the forward line but is most adept as a central striker.

Aston Villa have been warned to stop 'haggling' over terms for Jordan Veretout and make up their minds by the end of Wednesday.

Villa had an £8m bid accepted by Nantes for the midfielder but Leicester have offered £9m plus bonuses. The 22-year-old wants to join Villa and Nantes president Waldemar Kita is happy to allow the player to decide.

Jordan Veretout looks to be heading to Aston Villa but Leicester City have lodged a higher bid

However, he warned: 'He has made his choice, and I am going to go in his direction. They (Aston Villa) are haggling on certain details. They need to be careful because if they continue to haggle they might lose the player from right under their noses. They have until this evening to take a decision.

'I'm set to lose €5m (by taking Villa's deal and not Leicester's),' he told L'Equipe. 'I am a pillock. I would have never thought I would have done anything other than try to raise the price, but I am not going to go against the boy. He is a boy who has never done us wrong, who played the game right until the end, contrary to others, who did not sulk.'

West Ham have held positive talks over a deal for Caen midfielder N'Golo Kante. The proposed £5.5m move for the 24-year-old comes as their deal for Alex Song stalled over his length of contract. 

As revealed by Sportsmail, Song has floating bone in his ankle which means he is out for three months and West Ham want to offer him a one-year deal until he proves his fitness. Song would be allowed to leave on a free transfer by Barcelona but wants a three-year contract. West Ham have also made contact with Esteban Cambiasso's representatives as an alternative.

Kante was the subject of an £8m bid from Leicester while Marseille also made a proposal prior to signing Lassana Diarra and Abou Diaby.

Caen midfielder N'golo Kante (right) could be on his way to West Ham amid uncertainty over Alex Song

Brentford's Andre Gray is wanted by Hull City

Hull hope to spend some of the money they receive for James Chester and Robbie Brady on a bid for Brentford striker Andre Gray.

Manager Steve Bruce expects to lose Nikica Jelavic, Dame N'Doye and Abel Hernandez although various bids have fallen short of their valuations so far.

He has set his sights on Gray as someone who knows the Championship and can develop. However, Brentford won't sell cheaply and will want at least £5m for a player they bought from Luton Town for £500,000. Gray scored 17 goals for Brentford last season and Bruce wants that asset to secure promotion back to the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Torino have offered £4m for Hull City's record signing Abel Hernandez. The Uruguayan's agent Pablo Betancur, is due in Milan to meet the Italian side. Hull want at least £6.5m.

QPR are making a £1.6m move for Southend United goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

QPR manager manager Chris Ramsey is concerned after the sale of Alex McCarthy to Crystal Palace that he could yet lose Robert Green before the end of the window. He wants a quality replacement brought in and they are keen on England U21 international Bentley.

Hull had a £1m offer rejected earlier this month and have not yet given up while Nottingham Forest have also expressed an interest.

Bentley, 22, is in the last year of his contract and has so far resisted offers to sign a new one. He was League Two keeper of the year last season and his penalty shootout saves in the play-off at Wembley helped Southend win promotion.

Leicester are weighing up a £6m bid for Racing Genk defender Kara Mbodj.

The 25-year-old Senegal international can play at centre back or defensive midfield and is a former target for Manchester United. 

Senegal coach and former Birmingham and Portsmouth midfielder Aliou Cisse said: 'I have Kouyate, Mane, Sakho, Cisse all these great players but for me Mbodj is nearly always first on the team sheet. I have played in the Premier League and I know how well suited he is. He is strong, quick, powerful and rarely misses anything in the air. He is fantastic at set-pieces and has scored some great goals.'

Liverpool goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux is wanted by League One Swindon Town. The 21-year-old has been training with Mark Cooper's squad and could join initially on loan. He was formerly with Tottenham and signed a new two-year contract with Liverpool in May.

Swindon are also taking a look at former Manchester United full back Richard Eckersley who has returned from a stint in America.

Lawrence Vigouroux could be leaving Liverpool for Swindon Town if the League One side get their wish

Nottingham Forest are signing Spanish defender Daniel Pinillos. The 22-year-old full back has been training with the club this week and will be in the squad to play Aston Villa on Saturday in their final pre-season friendly. 

Forest have room to bring in players under their embargo as they are close to reaching financial settlements with both Djamel Abdoun and Radi Majewski.