Manchester United manager David Moyes has insisted that Everton boss Roberto Martinez should not stand in either Leighton Baines or Marouane Fellaini's way of a move to Old Trafford.
United lodged a £28m joint bid for the pair last week, with the Toffees swiftly rejecting an offer they felt was "derisory and insulting".
Moyes revealed that he would have struggled to convince either player to stay at Goodison Park in the same position as Martinez, but does have some sympathy for the Spaniard's position.
When asked if he felt sorry for Martinez, he told The Guardian: "I definitely do but I also know that if I'd been Everton manager and Sir Alex had come asking for Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini, I'd have found it very difficult to keep them because I always felt the right thing to do was what was right for the players.
"I signed every player at Everton, so I know a lot about them. They are a great club and they are both excellent players. Everton are a great club, I respect them greatly and I in no way would want to do it in a way that affects them. Of course, taking a player is going to affect them.
"I'm doing what I have to do in my job. I speak to Bill Kenwright [the chairman] regularly, we speak most weeks. He was great for me and hopefully he would think that I'd done a good job for him as well, and Everton. There's no way there's any disrespect whatsoever. The bid, from Manchester United's point of view, was a private thing and if and when we make a new offer we'd keep that offer private and confidential as well."
United have been linked with an improved bid for the duo before the transfer window closes on September 2, for a fee believed to be in the region of £35m.
Liam Power
