Leighton Baines has insisted that he made the right decision to stay at Everton despite attracting interest from Manchester United last summer.
The defender was heavily linked with the move to Old Trafford a year ago, but remained with the Merseyside club before penning a four-year contract extension in January.
The England international told the Liverpool Echo: "What the club has done lately is retain its best players. Everyone here who has been linked with someone has stayed and committed to the club. The younger lads, Ross [Barkley], [John Stones], Seamus [Coleman] have all been linked with clubs and they've all got their best football ahead of them, but they're all happy to do it here. That's as big as anything for me.
"The manager was telling me that's what he wanted to do when I signed my contract. I signed following that summer of the whole United thing, but that was in their minds back then in terms of how to change the status and perception so we can keep hold of players when other clubs come calling.
"Since that with me, a few of the other lads have been talked about as going by the media but in all fairness none of them have been the slightest bit interested in playing anywhere else. You hear that from them. They are enjoying it here and they want to achieve what they can here."
Everton face last season's Championship winners Leicester City in their opening match of the Premier League season later this month.
Sian Cowper
