Martinez not fazed by interest in his top players

Wouldn't be surprised if he ends up at Man Utd in the coming years though.

But sadly I think he'll go next summer, but let's make sure it's for top dollar and we spend it well.

I think a thank you to a certain Mr Moyes might be in order?

He might be able to help them avoid relegation.

Hee-hee!

There is a possibility that Stones and Lukaku could be sold in January for a combined fee of £85 million. Hopefully we would at least have 30 points by then!

Cheer up, Ian.

I don't think he would be best advised to leave us for a while. Can you imagine him going to a Sky club and being scrutinised all the time? He'd become a scapegoat just like Fellaini did.

I could see Lukaku tearing it up in La Ligue but not sure he actually wants to leave Everton. I get the feeling he likes being the main man.

There's very strong rumours (of course) about Lukaku and Stones both going in January. That would see the club bank the best part of £100M, and what better time to cut and run if you're an owner....

Wow, I'm making shit up.

(Sends CV to Daily Mail.)

Hyper-Inflation seems rampant in these parts.

For years, poorer clubs all over the world have been acting as bitches to the richer clubs by capitulating every time they have made them an offer they "couldn't refuse"... Well our boy is refusing.

Those clubs of enormous wealth have now disappeared out of sight, clubs like ours will never again be able to compete with in terms of spending power. The only way parity will ever be restored is by denying them access to all the best players.

Martinez is leading the way. He has already resisted the now customary "below market value" offers the richer clubs like to make when a player is yet to reach his prime. He has realised that, by letting a player develop, he will either reap the rewards on the pitch, or he will be able to charge top dollar when he's good and ready to sell.

I fully expect to see other managers follow Roberto's lead. The Sky windfall has ensured that nobody REALLY needs to sell. The tables are turning, the richer clubs are beginning to realise that if they want another club's player, they are the ones who will be having their trousers removed.

I doubt we will ever get a level playing field again, but Martinez is pointing the rest of football to a way that will at least redress some of the balance.

I still despair of his tactics and selections, but it's difficult not to love his defiance this summer. He's a smart guy and NOBODY will be getting Everton players on the cheap on his watch.

I wouldn't actively look to be selling Stones but if a silly offer came in (and I mean something like £50 million plus) I would take it. The purchase of Funes Mori shows that a fraction of that money would buy you a more than adequate replacement and leave us more to find that elusive No 10 and another back up striker. I like Stones but he's not quite as amazing as everyone makes out especially for his main job of defending.

Clubs in the Premier League are not short of money now and it's a sellers market with inflated prices for average players. What we need to consider is what we would be likely to get with that same amount of money. Top European players will in most cases want to be in London, I am afraid the reality of life is this is becoming more and more of an occurrence which limits our ability to attract the very best.

So let's not take that gamble, we need to be seen as not a selling club and we should keep proven players of this quality.

With ever inflated fees it goes to prove the importance of a good academy like ours where home grown players to beef up our future teams

What would we do with the 䀁 million? Direct 㿔 million replacements, boost squad numbers with 7 or 8 journeymen or ease down the debt?

The 1st is a non starter because those sort of players aren't queuing up to join us. We all know what happened over the park with strategy no 2 and no 3 isn't going to get me off my feet.

No, we must keep our young talent. At least let us keep the dream alive because at the moment dreams are pretty much all we have

I remember some people going mad when Rodwell was sold for example but looks like we got a good deal there in the end. We need to accept the reality of where we are and how we need to operate.

Unlike many managers, Martinez appears to be in total control and is doing things his way. Actually, a bit like the Athletico Madrid way. Big money young strikers with a rising transfer value and kids like Torres and De Gea emerging from the academy. Of course, three of their biggest successed were all South American. Kun Aguero, Falcao and Diego Forlan. Bought for plenty and sold for more.

What he is doing is sending out a clear message that, if you want them, be prepared to pay top dollar. With their long contracts, the club currently have the upper hand in any negotiations.

I hope both players stay but, unless we win something or the club is purchased by wealthy persons / person, I think we can expect the inevitable.

If someone offered to double my wages I'd tell my co-workers to plan a send-off party for tomorrow!!!

That said, Martinez knows the score on this front and will extract the max. from anyone that wants either Stones or Lukaku.

Both count as home grown players and both Chelsea and Man City are short on homegrown players. I can't see Chelsea paying a big fee for Lukaku and City have a similar player in Wilfred Bony.

It will be interesting to see where they wind up. With agents and sky-high wages, I figure at least one of them won't be with the Blues next season.

Cheers.