Everton manager Roberto Martinez has admitted that highly-rated defender John Stones has been affected by all the talk surrounding his future, Mirror Sport reports.
Premier League champions Chelsea are keen to sign the 21-year-old before the end of the transfer window and have already had two bids rejected by the Toffees this summer and there has also been strong rumours in the media that both Manchester clubs are watching developments closely.
With so much interest in Stones, his manager at Goodison Park admits the England international has had his head turned with all the recent speculation:
“Yes, but that’s something you improve on as you get more mature,” the Toffees boss said.
“You suffer when you are injured and not in the team and can’t enjoy your football. He’s a young talent and doing well,” Martinez added.
Despite the Spaniard’s public stance that Stones will not be allowed to leave the club this summer, it has been speculated that the Merseyside outfit want £34million for the 21-year-old and that would represent a British record fee for a defender, eclipsing the £29.1million that Manchester United paid for Rio Ferdinand in the summer of 2002.
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