Everton boss Martinez hints at eventual Stones exit as Toffees prepare for Chelsea clash

Everton face Chelsea this weekend

EVERTON boss Roberto Martinez has hinted John Stones may still leave Goodison Park.

 

The Toffees resisted Chelsea's hunt for Stones during the transfer window. 

Everton rejected four offers from the Premier League champions as well as a transfer request from Stones himself. 

 

But Martinez has not ruled out the prospect of allow Stones to achieve his dream move. 

However, a deal for Stones will be on Everton's terms.

 

As Everton prepare to face Chelsea this weekend, Stones will be at the forefront of discussion will still be on the centre-back's future and many have suggested Everton have just delayed his exit by a year. 

But Martinez dismissed those suggestions, claiming their decision was made on the best interest of the football club. 

“At the moment, you are not making a decision to delay it for another window. You don’t do that,” he explained. 

 

“You make a decision based on, 'What do we need now?' Can you replace a player now? 'Can we get a stronger squad by losing a player now?'

“The decision, clearly, now is John is in a perfect position to be important now for how we want to play now. 

“We have very young players ready to kick on, like Ross Barkley, Romelu Lukaku and John Stones and it was about keeping that core.”