Chelsea is actively pursuing a deal to sign John Stones, the former Manchester City defender, after he became a free agent following his contract expiration at the end of June. The West London club has entered the race alongside Inter Milan for the 32-year-old's signature.

Additionally, Chelsea is in discussions to acquire Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace and is exploring other defensive options, including Jacobo Ramon from Como. To facilitate these potential signings, the club is looking to offload current central defenders.

Key players involved in the squad reshuffle include:

• Trevoh Chalobah, who is in talks to join Como.
• Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile, both available for sale.

Stones has an impressive track record, having made 295 appearances for Manchester City since joining from Everton for £47.5 million in 2016. His tenure at City saw him contribute to a remarkable haul of silverware, including:

• Six Premier League titles
• Champions League trophy
• Two FA Cups
• Five League Cups
• Three Community Shields
• Club World Cup and Uefa Super Cup

On the international stage, Stones has earned 93 caps for England and played a crucial role in the team's third-place finish at the World Cup.