Former Everton striker Andy Gray says defender John Stones is good enough to secure a regular place at Chelsea if he completes a move to Stamford Bridge.
The 21-year-old has handed in a transfer request in an attempt to convince his club to let him go.
The Blues are strong favourites to secure his services with Manchester United also ready to make an offer.
"It's tough. As an Evertonian, I obviously don't want him to go, I'd rather he stayed at Everton for another couple of years," Gray told talkSPORT.
"But it's really difficult for him. He's been very quiet, he's gone on and played, he's done the right thing and gone about it really well.
"But now with the transfer request, all that does is just tell everybody that he would like Everton to take the offer, if it's acceptable, and he would like to move on.
"Of course I would like him to stay, but I really do understand that the young lad has an opportunity to play for Chelsea.
"But I don't agree that he might spend the next two years on the bench, I don't think that will happen. I think he's good enough to force his way into that team sooner rather than later."
