Leighton Baines: 'Transfer speculation was stressful'

Leighton Baines has admitted that the transfer speculation which surrounded him last summer was stressful.

The Everton full-back was repeatedly linked with a move to Manchester United before the start of the season, but claims that he had no say in the decision which saw him stay at Goodison Park.

"It was a bit of a stressful time because you're not sure what way it's going to go," Baines is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail. "You just try to conduct yourself in the proper manner as much as you can. I had those conversations myself. I didn't have someone in there for me feeding back.

"I spoke with the manager, the chairman and we had private conversations. They kept me in the loop all along. From this end you might get credit for turning someone down that you probably don't deserve because you didn't, I sat on the fence and saw how the thing played out.

"If I was playing for a foreign club I may have acted differently but I think there is a different level of respect. Maybe it was just how I was brought up."

Baines is expected to be involved when Everton host Manchester City on Saturday.