Roberto Martinez Wants Transfer Market Closed Before Season Starts

Everton coach, Roberto Martinez has criticised the transfer window being allowed to stay open past the start of the season, a sore point that has been brought up by several other managers, including West Bromwich Albion's Tony Pulis.

"I am repeating myself but it is wrong for the football authorities to allow the window to remain open when there are important games taking place," Martinez said.

"When there is an opportunity to go to Wembley and to win silverware that should be respected and we shouldn't put our players under this massive pressure."

He also confirmed that defender John Stones had handed in a formal transfer request and added the club would reject it on Thursday.

Stones, who has four years left on his Everton contract, started during the 5-3 win at Barnsley in the second round of the League Cup on Wednesday, despite formally asking Martínez if he could leave the club.

The 21-year-old is a target for Premier League champions Chelsea, who see him as a long-term replacement for the ageing John Terry.

Chelsea, reportedly, have had three bids for the young England international rejected so far and could make a fourth before the transfer deadline expires on Sept. 1.

Martinez reiterated his stance that Stones would not be sold, saying after the Barnsley game that "... in football as in life, money can't buy everything."

"We have not rejected it (the transfer request) yet because today was a match day and that was our priority," the manager said.

"We will reject it in the morning and get on with our business," he added.

"I am not surprised by the request because he is a young man who is under massive pressure from people and outside influences.

"We want to build a winning team and so we want to keep our best performers. John is a big part of our future," the 42-year-old Martinez said.