Chelsea eye Stones and Dunk to plug holes

CHELSEA are ready to move for John Stones – even if they sign £40million-valued Brighton defender Lewis Dunk.

Frank Lampard is working on a restructure of his back line after his side conceded 54 goals last season, the most in the top half of the table.

He could make a loan bid for Stones, who was again left on the bench on Saturday as Manchester City were knocked out of the Champions League.

Stones, right, last played for City as a substitute in their 4-0 win at Watford last month, their penultimate top-flight game of the season. Dunk, meanwhile, is seen by Lampard as the efficient, vocal, no-nonsense type of performer who would add leadership to the Chelsea defence.

The move for him is reminiscent of the club’s deal to sign Gary Cahill in 2012 from Bolton, who were then second from bottom in the table. Cahill went on to win every major club honour with the Blues, including the Champions League.