HOLDING MY ACES
Martinez has firm grip on Baines and Fellaini STOKE BRING AN ASS ON BOARD
happens up and down the country and it is a global concern in football.
“I think the football authorities need to look into it and not put the players, the fans and the league in this situation.
“You are going to get people’s minds turned in every dressing room in the country, but that’s what the laws in the game are forcing us to do.
“It’s not a great situation, so that’s why we want to focus on the games.”
United
boss David Moyes’ attempted raid on his former club saw an initial bid of £28million for the two players.
Everton responded by releasing a statement describing the offer as “derisory and insulting”.
Moyes (right) signed Fellaini for Everton in 2008 for a fee that has already reached £17m with add-ons – yet United appear to be offering only £16m for the 25-year-old Belgium midfielder.
Martinez admits he is looking at new signings ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline, but is adamant no bid has been made to his old club Wigan for McCarthy.
“There has been no bid made,” insisted the Everton boss.
Character
“I think it’s quite easy to understand that James is a player I signed at a young age and I’ve got huge admiration for him.
“So it doesn’t take anyone to create a little bit of a story. But there has been no bid.
“What we’re
doing actively is trying to identify maybe another strong character that can help us in the dressing room.
“But, as I’ve said before, I’m very, very happy with the squad.
“We made a strong effort to bring players in really early in the window to make sure they could adapt to the dressing room and I’m very pleased with that.
“But while the window is open, you always need to be looking around to see if you can get anyone to help the squad.” STOKE have beaten Genoa, Anderlecht and Feyenoord to the signing of Liverpool winger Oussama Assaidi on a seasonlong loan.
And the Potters remain in the frame to snap up QPR winger Junior Hoilett and West Brom bad-boy Peter Odemwingie.
Morocco international Assaidi (right) was at Stoke’s training ground yesterday, finalising terms with boss Mark Hughes and having a medical.
Assaidi, 25, has made 12 appearances for Liverpool since being signed from Heerenveen last summer.
And Stoke assistant manager Mark Bowen is excited by the new arrival.
He said: “We’ve done our homework on it and he is a player that Brendan Rodgers thinks highly of. “He’s very pacy and very direct. He likes getting at players and committing them.
“Mark likes that and we’ll be delighted to have him.”
Hughes will now turn his attentions to Hoilett and Odemwingie.
Bowen added: “It’s difficult to sign players, but Mark and the board want to add strength to the squad.”