LONDON: Everton manager Roberto Martinez has given Manchester United fresh discouragement in their pursuit of Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines by insisting his club are under no pressure to sell players.
Everton this week rejected a £28m ($44m, 33m euros) joint-offer from United for the pair, which they described as “derisory and insulting”. United could renew their interest in the duo with an improved bid before the transfer window closes on September 2, but Martinez is adamant it would not be considered.
“There is no temptation. In football you want to keep your best performers and that is where we are,” he said yesterday.
“You always get into a debate when there is a club that matches the valuation of a player. Then you need to make a decision. That has never been the case and where we are is we want to keep our most influential players and build from that. It has been well reported what the approach has been. We take it as a football compliment and move on. Now the focus has to be the games.”
Managers including Newcastle’s Alan Pardew, Jose Mourinho of Chelsea and Swansea City’s Michael Laudrup have called for the transfer window to close earlier. REUTERS
