Everton stand firm on decision to not sell John Stones

Everton boss Roberto Martinez insists the likes of John Stones will not be sold in January — and is refusing to be drawn on reports linking the Toffees with Ron Vlaar.

The Merseyside outfit stood firm over the summer amid bids from Chelsea for England defender Stones, who had a transfer request rejected. In recent days Manchester United have also been linked with the young England man.

There has been talk of the Premier League champions Chelsea trying again in the January transfer window, and of the 21-year-old interesting Barcelona.

But when asked yesterday about whether Everton’s best players could be leaving in January, Martinez said: “Not at all, no.

“We’re not in a position where we have to make financial decisions (like that).

“The focus is clearly on trying to be strong together and having a real continuity.” Martinez, who was speaking ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League home clash with Aston Villa, suggested Everton would not be involved in much business at all during January.

“From our point of view, the window will be to try to see if there is anything we can do to help the squad we have,” he said.

“If there are any opportunities, we will always look into it.

For us, it’s more a matter of continuity.”

One player Everton are reportedly considering recruiting is Vlaar, the Holland centre-half without a club since leaving Villa over the summer.

When quizzed on that matter, Martinez indicated no talks had taken place with Vlaar, and said: “You’re talking about a player that has very good experience in the Premier League and is not attached to other clubs.

“But at the moment it is not for me to mention about any other players apart from those we have in the squad. I have nothing to comment.”

Everton’s ex-Villa midfielder Tom Cleverley is poised to make his first-team return tomorrow from an ankle injury sustained in August.

And Martinez will make a late decision on whether Leighton Baines — who has also been troubled by an ankle problem — is ready to make his maiden first-team appearance of the season, saying it is a situation being assessed “day by day”.

Midfielder Muhamed Besic could also make his comeback, while defenders Brendan Galloway and Tyias Browning are doubts due to knocks, with the latter having undergone a scan on his knee.