United not chasing left-back, Martinez reveals.
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Everton manager Roberto Martinez has hinted that Manchester United may no longer be pursuing left-back Leighton Baines, according to the Liverpool Echo.
The England international is thought to have been one of the main targets for David Moyes this summer, after the former Everton boss left Goodison Park to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.
Moyes was also widely expected to raid his old club for Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini, though this move has not materialised either. Martinez has now revealed that he has received no recent bids for Baines, and that United are the only club to have shown an interest in the 28-year-old.
In what has been a somewhat frustrating summer for the new Red Devils boss, this will come as a big boost for former Wigan manager Martinez, who will have the difficult task of filling Moyes’ boots at Everton.
According to Martinez, the one offer that came in from United was not considered good enough, and there have been no new developments since then.
“Before we went to Austria one club officially contacted ourselves with an offer, and it was a final offer,” the Spaniard explained.
“They put something over and the valuation wasn’t anywhere near the quality of Leighton Baines.
“That was the end of it but since then there’s been all the speculation, which has been part of what the transfer window is.
“There’s never been another club or anyone else putting in an offer for Leighton. Since then we’ve moved on and we’re continuing to focus on the start of the season.”