• Premier League

Coleman going nowhere - Martinez

ESPN staff
March 20, 2014
Seamus Coleman is contracted to Everton until 2017 © PA Photos
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Roberto Martinez has told Manchester United and the rest of the Premier League that Seamus Coleman is staying at Everton.

The manager spoke after reports claimed a £15 million deal for the Republic of Ireland full-back to move to Old Trafford was being negotiated.

Other clubs have also been linked to the 25-year-old but the Everton manager insisted his club can hang on to Coleman, whose Goodison Park contract runs until 2017.

"It must be a different Seamus Coleman, because we've never had any conversations with anyone," Martinez said.

"The truth is that Seamus has been having a very good season and we want that to continue. He's becoming a very important player at Everton. He's going to be a very important player for his national team.

"And obviously we want Seamus to stay here for a long time, so it's nothing to comment on."

Coleman is one of four young Everton players -- the others being James McCarthy, John Stones and Ross Barkley -- set for contract extension talks at the end of the season.

And Martinez insisted that there was no need to bring forward those negotiations, despite United's reported interest in Coleman, who moved to Goodison Park from Sligo Rovers for just £60,000 pounds in 2008.

The manager said: "We've got a clear strategy as to how we want to keep this group of players together.

"We've got a new generation coming through, and we're going to keep those players for as long as we can."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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