Everton boss Roberto Martinez hits out over Chelsea's pursuit of John Stones

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Chelsea are expected to renew their efforts to sign John Stones


Everton boss Roberto Martinez has taken a swipe at Premier League counterparts Chelsea over their public pursuit of defender John Stones.
The Londoners had a £20m offer for the 21-year-old centre-back rejected by Everton on Friday but Sky sources understand they are preparing to table an improved bid for the England international.
Speaking after the 3-1 defeat by Arsenal in the final of the Barclays Asia Trophy in Singapore, Martinez insisted further advances would not be welcomed.


"We pride ourselves on playing a certain way and educating our young players in a manner that they are going to always get attention from elsewhere and that is always a compliment," he said.
"The other side is the disappointment of seeing a football club leaking such statements to the press and making it so open.
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Roberto Martinez insists Stones will remain an Everton player

'Selling club'
"That is not the way we would do it at Everton, we would not speak of a player who is registered at another club and there is no issue from our point of view - John Stones is an Everton player.
"We are not a selling club. We are not a club that needs to be worried about what other clubs put through the press."


Despite losing out to the Gunners in front of a 52,000 crowd at a sun-drenched National Stadium, Martinez declared himself satisfied with the benefits his side will take from the competition.
"In pre-season, you don't get many opportunities to get a competitive game like that against the quality of Arsenal and from that point of view, it was a great workout," added the Spaniard.


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[h=2]We are not a selling club. We are not a club that needs to be worried about what other clubs put through the press.[/h] Roberto Martinez on John Stones



"Obviously we wanted to win and probably it showed that we are in pre-season because the lapses of concentration were very poor by our standard.
"But all in all, I thought it was the perfect way to stretch the squad and test it, and I think that the benefits from this tournament will be immense."

[h=3] Lost art of defending [/h] What John Stones could learn from Jose Mourinho