ROBERTO MARTINEZ has categorically denied verbal agreements have been struck with the likes of John Stones allowing him to quit Everton at the end of the season.
 |
| Roberto Martinez has again insisted that John Stones will not leave Everton |
Everton ripped up a transfer request from Stones last summer after Chelsea's protracted courtship of the defender and rebuffed a series of bids up to £37million.
Yet Martinez is adamant that no arrangement was made with Stones whereby the England international was asked to spend another 12 months at Goodison Park and then he would be allowed to go if he wanted.
It was generally accepted that Liverpool told Luis Suarez to give the club one more season after blocking his move to Arsenal in the summer of 2013, the Uruguayan moving to Barcelona the following year.
The futures of Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley have also come under scrutiny but Everton manager Martinez said: "That is not true. I would never do that. That would be very negative.
"If you do that could you imagine the last two months for that player? He would never put a leg in or never challenge for the ball.
"I don't agree with doing that. I know you can do that to keep a player for another 12 months but if you're not going to have a player 12 months down the line you need to start replacing him to have a stronger team."
Everton's Capital One Cup semi-final first-leg victory over Manchester City on Wednesday, a 2-1 win sealed by Lukaku's header, leaves the club on the brink of their first Wembley final since 2009. Yet it came at a cost with right-back Seamus Coleman ruled out for up to a month with a calf injury.
Skipper Phil Jagielka is expected to make his first appearance since damaging his knee against Arsenal in October against Dagenham and Redbridge in the FA Cup tomorrow. Stones may be forced to move to full-back.
Meanwhile, Everton have confirmed the £3m signing of Swiss Under-21 striker Shani Tarashaj from Grasshopper Club Zurich.
The 20-year-old has scored eight goals in 18 games and will return to Grasshopper to complete his national service.
He has signed a contract until 2020 and Martinez said: "Shani is an enormous young talent in Swiss football who, without a doubt, will have a great future."
Post a Comment Blogger Facebook Disqus