Rio Ferdinand has urged John Stones to think carefully about his future, suggesting he could become a linchpin in Manchester United's backline instead of a supporting act for Chelsea.
The Everton centre back has been the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks after the Toffees, who insist he is going nowhere, twice rejected big money bids from Chelsea for the 21-year-old.
Jose Mourinho is believed to see the former Barnsley defender as a natural successor to John Terry, but Ferdinand says if he leaves Goodison Park he could get regular football at United.
"If he goes to Man United, he plays every week so that's the right club for him," Ferdinand said.
"If he goes to Chelsea, he's not playing every week. He's at that stage of his development where he wants to play every week. If you say to any young footballer to leave a club to sit on the bench, you've got to be a lunatic. You have to be."
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Elsewhere, young Blues striker Dominic Solanke has joined Vitesse Arnhem on a season-long loan, the Premier League champions have announced.
The 17-year-old made his first-team debut in last October's Champions League group stage win over Maribor and was an integral member of the teams which won the FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League.
Now Solanke is the latest Chelsea player to move to Holland with Vitesse, with whom the Blues have close ties.
