article_snippet.sent: Barcelona ended up signing 31-year-old Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia for £14.5m and 29-year-old Thomas Vermaelen from Arsenal for £15m but influential voices at the Catalan club urged then sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta to bid for Everton defender John Stones instead.
article_snippet.sent: According to El Pais, Barcelona were desperate for defensive reinforcements at the end of last season.
article_snippet.sent: The former Barnsley defender  moved The former Barnsley defender   up the list of possible targets with performances for Everton that saw the youngster on the stand-by list for England’s World Cup campaign in Brazil.
article_snippet.sent: Barcelona were desperate for reinforcements and Everton defender John Stones performances  caught the eye of the Catalans .
article_snippet.sent: The former Barnsley defender   ability to play at right-back as well as centre-back played in The former Barnsley defender   favour with the Catalan club preparing for the likely departure of Dani Alves currently in the final year of The former Barnsley defender   contract and Barcelona's preference for central defenders with the mobility and technique to play at full-back.
article_snippet.sent: The Belgian arrived with a hamstring injury sustained at the World Cup and never played more than a friendly against an Indonesian XI before having an operation in Finland in December to remedy the problem.
article_snippet.sent: May. Barcelona ended up signing Valencia defender Jeremy Mathieu who netted against Celta Vigo on Sunday .
highlights_snippet.sent: Barcelona were desperate for reinforcements at Everton .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: La Liga giants instead signed Thomas Vermaelen and Jeremy Mathieu .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera tracked by Barcelona .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin tops poll to replace Dani Alves .