Toffees boss yet to offer defender new deal.
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Everton manager Roberto Martinez has insisted that offering full back Leighton Baines a new contract simply isn’t in his ‘train of thought’ at the moment, Sky Sports reports.
The highly sought after full back’s current deal expires in the summer of 2015 and Martinez feels that because there is still 18 months left to run on that contract there is no rush to spring straight into talks over a new deal.
However, Everton were forced to fend off interest in the place over the summer from Manchester United and Martinez intimated in September that talks over a new deal would likely begin soon.
Those talks have yet to happen, but the club do not feel as though the 28-year-old’s future is a major concern for the time being.
“There’s no train of thought on that at the moment,” Martinez said.
“All that matters is that Leighton is enjoying his football. That’s the only thing I’m focusing on.”
Baines’ performances so far this term would suggest that he is happy to continue playing on Merseyside, and Martinez has been full of praise for the man who could very well be England’s first choice left back at next summer’s World Cup.
“He’s increasing all his personal stats. I think all his performance stats have improved from last season.
“That, for me, is very important – someone of his age and maturity is starting to enjoy his football in a great manner. The fact that he’s developed his performance level as he has in the early weeks of the season is very significant. That’s what matters to me.
“Everything else is just a case of trying to find an issue from the outside and see what we will comment on.”