EVERTON forward Steven Naismith has emphasised the club are very much looking ahead to a future with John Stones in the team.
The Toffees rejected pre-season bids of £20m and £26m from Chelsea for 21-year-old England defender Stones.
And while Everton would not comment on reports yesterday they had turned down a third bid of £30m from the London club, it is thought the Merseyside outfit’s stance on the matter has not changed – that Stones is not for sale.
That was something stressed last week by Everton boss Roberto Martinez.
And regarding Stones, Naismith said: “We definitely want him to stay – he is a fantastic guy and footballer, and a mainstay in our team.
“You want your best players to be here to hopefully continue bringing success to Everton.
“He has progressed rapidly in the last two years and we want him to continue that under the leadership of the manager and also (Stones’ Everton captain and fellow England centre-back) Phil Jagielka – I’m sure Stonesey would be the first to say he learns so much from him on a day-to-day basis.”
Then asked if Everton could cope with the loss should further bids lead to Stones’ departure, Naismith said: “I think the club’s stance on it has been pretty straightforward and the manager is looking forward with Stonesey in the team.
“The manager has mentioned wanting to bring in three more players in to strengthen, and I don’t think anyone has ever thought about Stonesey moving on.”
Martinez earlier this month said Stones had been affected by Chelsea’s interest, but he subsequently praised the player’s focus in Everton’s opening match of the season, a 2-2 Barclays Premier League home draw against Watford on August 8.
And 28-year-old Scotland international Naismith said: “John has gone about his business day-to-day in training in such a professional manner.
“He has then taken that into the games, because he has been one of the stronger performers in the team since the start of the season.”
Speaking about Stones last Thursday ahead of Saturday’s 3-0 win at Southampton, Martinez said: “I have said before the player is not for sale and that is the end of it.
“Our situation has been very clear from the beginning. We are not a selling club who will lose our best performers.
“He is very important player for us and we are looking forward to seeing the best of John over the next few seasons, not just the next few weeks.”
Speculation of Chelsea returning for Stones has heightened after John Terry was substituted by Jose Mourinho for the first time in 177 Premier League games in Sunday’s 3-0 loss at Manchester City.
After the match, Mourinho said: “The point was not to take John out, but to put (Kurt) Zouma in. I want to have my fastest player on the pitch and not on the bench.”
