Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce has laid into under-fire Everton boss Roberto Martinez over his handling of John Stones.
Stones started the season as first-choice defender for both the Blues and England but since failed to impress for club or country, with a series of high-profile errors have underlined how his progress has stalled.
The 21-year-old was the subject of interest from Chelsea last summer but has been routinely undermined by poor decision-making when attempting to play from the back and lost his starting role for England to Gary Cahill.
And Allardyce, who would secure the Black Cats’ Premier League status with victory over Everton tomorrow night, believes he would be better suited that former Wigan manager Martinez to remedy the errors in Stones’ game.
He said: “I’d like to sign Stones, him alongside (Lamine) Kone would be a good combination.
“I’d teach him how to defend. It would be a simple job for me. That’s my area of expertise in many ways.
“I can coach in all departments, especially team play but when it comes to defending, you name it, I’ll tell you about it.
“It wouldn’t be too difficult to show him, a player of his intelligence, when and where to do things.
“You’re never going to stop a player of his ability coming out with the ball and passing it around, but don’t do it at the wrong time.”