Report: Everton would sacrifice Stones to ensure Lukaku stays

Everton is ready to offer Romelu Lukaku a weekly salary in excess of £100,000 in a bid to retain his services, even if it comes at the cost of losing defender John Stones, according to The Telegraph's Matt Law.

Related - Report: Everton to offer Lukaku new deal

New club majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri has made approximately £100 million available for recently appointed manager Ronald Koeman to replenish his squad. Numerous names have been bandied around as potential buys - Kevin Strootman and Axel Witsel are among those on the wishlist - but warding off the likes of Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain from wantaway Lukaku, 23, remains a top priority.

The club feels that keeping Stones around for another season could potentially be damaging and costly for the club, though the British-Iranian businessman would generally prefer to keep him. In the wake of Everton rejecting repeated bids from Chelsea for the 22-year-old last summer - and denying his transfer request - the England international's campaign was littered by defensive mishaps incurred by what appeared to be a lack of concentration. Another season of that could be detrimental to both Everton's enhanced ambitions and Stones' development.

Apparently waiting to compete for Stones' signature is Manchester City, which is similarly undergoing an overhaul under new boss Pep Guardiola, and its rival Manchester United. The former is believed to have already been in conversation with Everton over the potential transfer while Stones is away at Euro 2016.