Everton insist Chelsea target Stones won't be sold even if he hands in a transfer request

John Stones will play against Manchester City on Sunday despite interest from Chelsea

ROBERTO MARTINEZ has said John Stones will not be sold to Chelsea even if the Everton defender formally submits a transfer request.

 

The England international saw a third bid, this time of £30m, rejected on Monday and is considering whether to push for a move to the champions.

But Martinez, who expects to complete the £6m signing of Argentina defender Ramiro Funes Mori today and is pursuing Dynamo Kiev's Andriy Yarmolenko, maintains a transfer request would not weaken Everton's resolve.

"When you have got [the player on] a long-term contract those things don't change at all," he said.

 

"It has gone too far that situation now for any action to change it because it is not something that is brand new. If someone comes in from nowhere and puts in a transfer request that is a different situation.

"But in a saga of I don't know how many weeks, we are very clear."

Chelsea are unlikely to make a fourth bid unless Stones, who will play against Manchester City on Sunday, tries to force the issue.