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Martinez emphasises continuity over cash

Roberto Martinez says that the opportunity to cash in on Leighton Baines would have been over the summer and that stability at Everton is now more important than profit.

The Blues' boss was asked if he would consider emulating how Sunday's opponents Tottenham boosted their transfer funds by selling Gareth Bale and the Spaniard insists that prioritising cash over continuity mid-season would be counter-productive.

"No, no, no," he says. "We were at that stage in the summer. But once we had that situation when Marouane [Fellaini] and Victor Anichebe left, that gave us the opportunity to reinvest and now we are in a position where we need a bit of continuity and time to squeeze our potential as a team.

"We're in a period where we need to be focusing on games and trying to push ourselves to the maximum, to see how good we can become this season. It's important we have that stability now."

Baines has been the subject of almost continuous speculation regarding a move to Manchester United for the past year now but he remains an Everton player after the Champions failed to come anywhere near the Blues' valuation of the England international.

Martinez is not fazed with the talk in the media which he knows will persist while until the 28 year-old signs a new contract at Goodison — even then, he will likely remain a target for rival clubs.

"I hope we get asked about Ross Barkley and James McCarthy also because that would be a good sign," the Spaniard continues. "I don't mind that, as long as we're in a position where we can control what happens.

"It's different when you've got someone out of contract. The problem is when you've got no one talking about your players because that means they're struggling.

"So I don't mind that as long as we are the ones who are making the calls. We are in a position now which means we can do that."

Quotes or other material sourced from The Guardian

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