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Roberto Martinez hopeful of keeping Chelsea target John Stones

Roberto Martinez hints that Everton defender John Stones will stay at Goodison Park despite speculation linking him to Chelsea.

Roberto Martinez has revealed his ambition to keep the "special" John Stones at Everton beyond this summer, amid intense speculation linking him to Chelsea.

Stones, 21, has been linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge as a long-term replacement for John Terry, with the Blues already seeing two bids worth £20m and £25m rejected.

On Sunday, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said that he could end his interest, despite speculation of a third offer being on the way, but Martinez is hopeful of keeping the centre-back.

"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 [at Duncan Ferguson's testimonial]," he told reporters.

"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. There is nothing to discuss and teams putting bids in for him doesn't mean anything."

Stones is contracted to the Goodison Park club until 2019.

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John Stones in action for Everton on September 21, 2014
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