Season › 2013-14 › News

Martinez unaware of improved offer for duo

Negotiations are in Kenwright's hands

Roberto Martinez admits that the decision over whether Marouane Fellaini or Leighton Baines will be sold and for how much will ultimately rest with Bill Kenwright.

Media reports tonight claim — the breadth and timing of the bulletins suggest it comes from Goodison Park — that a new £36m offer for the duo has been rejected by Everton but Martinez was not in a position to confirm or deny the speculation after telling the Chairman that he doesn't "want know anything that's going on, I only want to know the final news if there is anything."

The Spaniard's frustration at the whole transfer window process and its impact on his preparations for the early games of the season has been evident and he hinted again at the complications inherent in the history between Kenwright and David Moyes as the ex-boss tries to lure away two of his former players.

"I have had enough of 'he said this, he said that'", Martinez is quoted in The Guardian. "This is a really sensitive situation because you're talking of a chairman and previous manager who had a relationship over 11 years.

"A lot of things have been said in public and I don't want to be part of that. I'm out of it. But I have never had any instruction that anything has changed [with respect to Fellaini and Baines]."

The 40 year-old reiterated that Baines has not instructed Everton to come to an agreement with United over a deal that would take him to Old Trafford but was pragmatic about the fact that things could change between now and the 2nd September deadline.

"[W]hatever the players say in a different situation or environment could change," he said. "All I can tell you is that Leighton is an Evertonian and very thankful for the opportunity Everton gave him.

"And if he has a club like Manchester United interested in him, it's a football compliment and we will take it like that. Then if things are not right, they are not right. Sometimes the club needs to be respected in that way."

Martinez, meanwhile, continues to look at ways he can strengthen his squad before the window slams shut, saying last night that he is actively trying to get one or two players in.

He suggested that informal contact has been made with Wigan chairman, Dave Whelan, about James McCarthy, although it is generally accepted that he would not be able to move for the 22 year-old midfielder, rated at £15m, without the funds generated from the sale of one of his more saleable assets.

"I've had conversations but not in a formal way," said Martinez who is also being linked again with a loan move for Gareth Barry, although a compromise over his £120,000-a-week salary would need to be reached.

Quotes or other material sourced from The Guardian

---

---

---

About these ads