Everton could have a scrap on their hands to keep hold of John Stones following reports that La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona have joined the chase for the England youngster. According to Daily Star, Barca have identified the highly-rated defender as a potential target now that their 14-month transfer embargo has been lifted. The Spanish champions were hit with the penalty in April 2014 after being found guilty of breaching FIFA regulations on the transfer of players aged under 18. Meanwhile, former Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez earmarked Stones as a potential new addition to his squad, and the former Liverpool manager's departure from the Bernabeu has done nothing to dampen the club's interest in the player, according to the Daily Mail. The Spanish clubs' apparent interest in the former Barnsley man follows reports that Chelsea are lodging a fresh bid of more than £45 million for his services, after having offers rebuffed in the summer. Everton are said to be determined to resist offers for Stones, but may have come to the realisation that holding onto him longterm could be an uphill struggle. Stones has made 76 appearances for Everton, forged a solid defensive partnership with Blues skipper Phil Jagielka, and broke into the England setup since joining the club from Barnsley in 2013.
