England legend Rio Ferdinand has urged Everton star John Stones to snub Chelsea for Manchester United, according to reports from the Mirror.

Stones has been heavily linked with a move to both Premier League giants in recent weeks, with United and the Blues both keen on a new centre-back.

Premier League champions Chelsea have already had two bids rejected by the Toffees, while the Red Devils are planning a swap deal which would see Jonny Evans move in the other direction.

WANT MORE? >> Manchester United Transfer News | Chelsea Transfer News

However, former Man United legend Ferdinand believes that if Stones makes the switch to Stamford Bridge, he would be a ‘lunatic’ as the 21-year-old will not receive any regular playing time under Jose Mourinho.

"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.

“I’d buy John Stones if I’m Man United. You’re buying someone who’s going to give you ten years’ service. He’s a great prospect — the best young centre-half in the country at the moment. It’s a no-brainer for me.”

Ferdinand then went on to hail Stones’ ability and potential, claiming that he could very well be a world beater in the near future.

“He’s very good on the ball. I took a real interest in him and watched him at Loftus Road against Bobby Zamora, who gave most centre-halves problems last season physically and he handled Bobby well, and that physical element.

“That was one of the areas that I hadn’t really seen him under pressure with and he looked up for that battle. With all the other stuff he’s got, he’s got a real good chance.

“Looking at him as a footballer, technically he plays with a certain amount of maturity, I think he would be ready to go and do that. But he is the better judge of that. I don’t know him personally.

“Mine was different. I went from West Ham to Leeds, not West Ham to Man United. So the pressure was different. He is not going to be afforded that.

“Huge price tag [so] he is not going to be able to go in under the radar and bed in. He is going to go in, if he signs for Man United, as the number one centre-half; for Chelsea, probably as an understudy for a certain amount of time.”

Stones, valued at £34million by Everton, played 28 games in all competitions last season, scoring one goal.