Roberto Martínez: John Terry in Chelsea campaign to tap up John Stones

 Roberto Martinez has accused John Terry of involvement in a Chelsea campaign to tap up John Stones and insisted Everton are under no financial pressure to sell a player with "the potential to be the best centre-half England has produced".

Everton have rejected bids of £20m and £26m for their 21-year-old defender from the Premier League champions this summer and informed Chelsea in writing that Stones is not for sale. That has not prevented Jose Mourinho, Gary Cahill and Terry from publicly discussing Chelsea’s pursuit of the England international, in breach of Premier League guidelines, and their captain returned to the subject on Wednesday when he said: "One day I won’t be in the team but Chelsea are looking to the likes of John Stones for the future, so the club will continue to grow and do well."

Martinez claimed that Terry was guilty of an illegal approach to the Barnsley-born defender, although Everton have not added substance to their manager’s view by reporting Chelsea to the Premier League.

"That is wrong; that is illegal," said the Everton manager on Terry’s comment. “The rules don’t allow you to comment on players who are registered at other clubs in that open manner. That is disappointing."

Everton appear content at present to register their complaint with Chelsea rather than with the authorities. Martinez added: “We have a fantastic relationship between the two clubs. In the past we made our biggest investment in Chelsea [when signing Romelu Lukaku]. We all know there are rules and regulations and it is something we don’t want to see when other clubs speak about your players. It is wrong and it shouldn’t happen. As clubs we have a good understanding of where we are."

The Everton manager reiterated that Stones was not for sale but with the caveat: “I am not stupid enough to say I know what will happen.” He also evaded several questions on whether Stones has expressed an interest in joining Chelsea.

"We haven’t been in that situation," said Martinez. "The whole John Stones situation has come through the media because a club made a bid and made it public. We have never been in a situation of commenting. We have a very talented young player who really has the potential to be the best centre-half England has produced, so you are going to get that attraction. That is natural, healthy and very, very positive. But a player can make a decision when the clubs say he can make a decision. There is nothing to make a decision on. There is no negotiation. There is no relationship between the clubs in terms of trying to find a deal."

He added: "The modern game has gone in such a way that sometimes there are things you cannot control. But what you can control is your own finances and we are not a football club that has to sell to balance the books. If you think we need to sell John Stones to balance the books, that is not the case. As a club we are brave enough to give young players a big role and we know we will have to go through situations where these players might get interest from elsewhere. But as long as we can control our finances that is not a problem."

Everton have spent only £4.2m on one transfer fee this summer, for Gerard Deulofeu, with Tom Cleverley arriving on a free. Martínez wants to sign a central defender, striker and No10 before 1 September. He insists those targets are not dependent on Stones leaving and may arrive late in the window, with clubs’ involvement in European qualifiers one possible factor in delaying business.

James McCarthy has banished uncertainty over his Everton future by signing a new five-year contract. Tottenham Hotspur were interested in the Republic of Ireland international amid claims he was unhappy the Everton contract he signed when he arrived from Wigan Athletic for £13m in 2013 had not been improved as agreed. That issue was resolved this week and the midfielder has committed himself to Goodison Park until 2020.

McCarthy said: “This is a brilliant club with a brilliant fan-base and what we want to try to do is bring some success here and push forward. The gaffer is trying to build a team and a squad for the long-term and I’m excited to be a part of that and to be a part of this team.”

Kevin Mirallas, who has been the subject of interest from West Ham United this summer, is also expected to sign a new Everton contract in the coming days.