MX23RW : Saturday, July 6 07:37:50| >> :60:1496:1496:

Roberto Martinez hopeful of keeping Chelsea target John Stones

Roberto Martinez hints that Everton defender John Stones will stay at Goodison Park despite speculation linking him to Chelsea.

Roberto Martinez has revealed his ambition to keep the "special" John Stones at Everton beyond this summer, amid intense speculation linking him to Chelsea.

Stones, 21, has been linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge as a long-term replacement for John Terry, with the Blues already seeing two bids worth £20m and £25m rejected.

On Sunday, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said that he could end his interest, despite speculation of a third offer being on the way, but Martinez is hopeful of keeping the centre-back.

"You're going to get clubs that are working with big budgets because they have been working in the Champions League but we are a club with nine league titles and you've seen today we celebrated a special memory [at Duncan Ferguson's testimonial]," he told reporters.

"We are a big club. What we want is to build and what we want to do is concentrate on the future and we are not a selling club by any means. The situation with John is as you would expect.

"He is one of the most talented centre-backs in European football and we feel we have a special footballer with us. There is nothing to discuss and teams putting bids in for him doesn't mean anything."

Stones is contracted to the Goodison Park club until 2019.

ID:236958: cacheID:236958:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2626:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
John Stones in action for Everton on September 21, 2014
Read Next:
Mourinho: 'Chelsea could give up on Stones pursuit'
>
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Saturday, July 6
 
5pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!