Everton boss Roberto Martinez says he is not aware of any transfer request being made by Toffees defender John Stones.
Chelsea had pre-season bids of £20m and £26m for Stones rejected and Everton refused to comment on Tuesday about reports that they had turned down a third offer of £30m from the London club.
It was, though, understood the Merseysiders’ stance that the 21-year-old England international is not for sale remained firm, and it has since been reported that Stones is on the brink of handing in a transfer request.
But asked on Friday if he was aware of that being the situation, Martinez – speaking at his press conference to preview Sunday’s home Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester City – said: “Not at all, no.”
The Spaniard added that he would have no hesitation in including Stones in his plans for Sunday’s game.
Martinez stressed that “the latest situation is exactly same” on the Stones front.
And when asked if the player handing in a request would change things, Martinez said: “It’s not an area we need to concentrate on.
“What we need to concentrate on is that in 48 hours, we’re going to play the team at the top of the league and that’s all that matters.
“The only thing I’m concerned about is preparing for the game.”
It was then put to the manager that a point might be reached where an offer came in from Chelsea that was too good for Everton to refuse and that Toffees chairman Bill Kenwright might intervene.
But Martinez said: “There’s no such situation.
“If you want to go on (talking about Stones), I can understand. But I don’t think it’s healthy for anyone when you have the window open after the season starts, because the discussion we are having now is wrong.
“We should be talking about the game at the weekend. We should be talking about how well we performed against Southampton (a 3-0 away win last Saturday).
“But the only thing you are asking me about is about an individual. That is so wrong.”
Reports have also suggested Everton are in talks over a move for Dynamo Kiev’s Ukraine forward Andriy Yarmolenko, while simultaneously pursuing a deal for River Plate’s Argentina defender Ramiro Funes Mori.
Martinez said regarding potential incomings: “We are trying to work as hard as we can to make a couple of new additions to the squad.
“But even with those, it is not something we’re going to come out and talk about because the only thing we need to focus on is preparing for the game.”