RIO OVERTAKEN BY STONES?

Rio Ferdinand signed for Manchester United on July 21^st 2002 for £30 million having spent the previous 4 years at West Ham, with a short loan spell at Bournemouth, and then two years at Leeds United, until the Yorkshire club had to sell him to help with their financial problems.

He proved to be an outstanding centre back, playing over 300 times for the Manchester club and he quite rightly earned 81 caps for England. He ended his career with a brief term at QPR.

At school he was a competent gymnast representing Stratford, did ballet several times a week, joined the QPR academy and had to suffer the trials of the death of a school colleague, Stephen Lawrence.

Retiring in 2015, he played over 700 games and scored 13 (yes only 13) goals!

Life was not entirely without controversy, but he was a true and reliable professional who has recently had to endure the premature death of his wife. With brother Anton and uncle Les close relations and also professional footballers in their time, Rio has much to look forward to.

This week John Stones, born in Thurlstone, just a few miles from me, and an ex-pupil at Penistone School will be pinching himself as his value as an English defender rises to over that of Rio's.

Once of Barnsley, now with what the Chelsea manager describes as a “smaller club”, Everton, he is likely to be transferred to Chelsea for some price over £30 million.

At 21, he is already an international, he can play at centre back or right back and he has a huge future ahead of him. Having signed for Barnsley in March 2012 and then Everton in August 2013, he made his England debut in 2014 and he has played only 86 top flight games.

Bit of as gamble? He is highly rated but he has already had an injury issue so the medical will be vital!