Everton boss VOWS to keep Chelsea transfer target and potential John Terry replacement at Goodison Park

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Everton manager Roberto Martinez has reiterated his desire to keep hold of Chelsea transfer target John Stones, Mirror Sport reports.

The reigning Barclays Premier League champions have already seen two bids rejected for the highly-rated defender this summer and are expected to return with another offer before the transfer window closes next month.

However, Martinez is desperate to retain the services of the 21-year-old and insists the England international has not had his head turned because of interest from one of the biggest clubs in European football:

“You’re going to get clubs that are working with big budgets because they have been working in the Champions League. But we are a club with nine league titles and you’ve seen today we celebrated a special memory,” the Spaniard said.

“We are a big club. What we want is to build and what we want to do is concentrate on the future and we are not a selling club by any means. The situation with John is as you would expect.”

“He is one of the most talented centre-backs in European football and we feel we have a special footballer with us,” Martinez added.

Stones’ participation in the Toffees’ season opener against newly-promoted Watford at Goodison Park next weekend is in doubt after he limped out of Duncan Ferguson’s testimonial on Sunday afternoon.

The youngster is regarded as a potential star for the future after impressing for the Merseyside outfit since his arrival from Barnsley in the 2013 January transfer window and is seen as a potential long-term replacement for Blues skipper John Terry at Stamford Bridge, but if Martinez has his way then Stones won’t be allowed to leave this summer.

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