Martinez: Everton can cope with sale of star duo

John Stones and Romelu Lukaku: Everton's crown jewels

John Stones and Romelu Lukaku: Everton's crown jewels

Roberto Martinez says Everton are in control of the futures of Romelu Lukaku and John Stones and he claims the club can cope with their sales.

Everton face a battle to keep hold of 25-goal striker Lukaku and England centre-back Stones with several of Europe’s top clubs expected to come calling for the pair in the summer.

But Martinez, who could well get the axe at Goodison in the summer, is confident that the club hold all the aces with regards to the futures of Everton’s star duo, who both have three years on their current deals.

The Spaniard, who is in his third season with the club, is relaxed about players leaving and says the club has the money to replace them now following the major recent investment from Farhad Moshiri.

“If these players were out of contract, it would make you very, very vulnerable,” said Martinez. “But if they are under contract, you are in control.

“These players have an incredible value in the market and it’s very easy to replace a player with that sort of value rather than having to replace a player who does not have a value.

“To answer your question: The players who have the value at Everton are on long-term contracts. So that value is in the squad, so it’s down to us that, whatever happens after every window, the squad gets stronger and we have a better team.

“This summer is going to be huge, because it’s a new era at the football club [with a massive new TV deal coming into effect]. We have a new investor. I think we have changed completely financially from what we had.

“I’m looking at the valuation of our squad now and it’s not something to be fearful of if we lose a player. They won’t be sold to balance the books and they will not be going for the wrong reasons.”