Stones is now the focus of attention of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who is willing to fork out as much as £30m for him, and if Holgate can reach that level himself in the future, Roberto Martinez will have pulled off a fine bit of business with regards to the long-term plans of the club.
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Asked whether he has ade progress with any of the three senior signings Martinez has identified as vital for his squad, he added: “Obviously they are very important for us”.
However with Chelsea relentless in their approach for Stones, it remains to be seen what decision Martinez takes with regards to Everton’s promising youngster.
He made 22 appearances for the League One club in 2014-15 and has been likened to the in-demand John Stones, who also joined Everton from Barnsley in January 2013.
Everton have announced the signing of the 18-year-old Barnsley defender Mason Holgate on a five-year deal.
However, Martinez does not expect Holgate to perform “straightway” in the Premier League as “that would be unfair” but he has “incredible potential” and is “one for the future rather than now.”
Chelsea have had two bids turned down for the Everton defender and he is not interested in selling. He would be a phenomenal young prospect coming into that golden generation of players that we feel we have at the Club.
We also retain a significant on-going financial interest in his career moving forward which is certainly a good thing. I just want him to play his football and continue where he left off last season, but interest from Premier League clubs turns your head.
But he will now follow John Stones in moving from the Yorkshire club to Merseyside. They clearly do not want to sell but if Chelsea were to come back with a bid of £30 million plus then surely the Toffees would have to accept it.
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“At Chesterfield the pitch was hard but I asked him whether he was wearing new boots and he said no. Whether or not he was lying, I don’t know”.
