Liverpool // Roberto Martinez is convinced that Chelsea target John Stones will still be an Everton player when the transfer window closes.
Jose Mourinho has made three bids for the England international centre-back, the most recent of £30 million (Dh 173m), but the Everton manager is confident he will keep Stones. “Of course, yes,” he said, before praising Stones for his performance in the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City.
“He puts a smile on your face when you see a player like John Stones defending the way he defends,” he said. “He is an incredible footballer and to be able to organise things at such a young age it shows what a talented footballer he is.”
Martinez is also optimistic of bolstering his squad with three more signings. Everton are set to seal a £6m move for the Argentinian Ramiro Funes Mori, who was at Goodison Park to watch Everton’s first loss of the season. “He won the Copa Libertadores,” Martinez said. “He is 24, a left-footed centre-half and will fit into our squad well and bring a winning mentality.”
Martinez was non-committal if the Ukraine international Andriy Yarmolenko will join but confirmed he is looking to add a No 10 in the next week.
“We are looking for that position,” he said. “I expect to complete three signings.”
Martinez praised the officials for an “outstanding” decision in disallowing a Romelu Lukaku goal, when the striker was adjudged offside, while his City counterpart Manuel Pellegrini praised Raheem Sterling, who set up Aleksandar Kolarov’s opener.
“We have a different pace with Sterling,” he said. “He was very important in the whole game, especially in the first goal.”
Samir Nasri scored the second as City maintained their 100 per cent beginning to the season and Pellegrini said: “We have started playing very well in every game.”
Elsewhere, Watford and Southampton drew 0-0 at Vicarage Road.
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