Everton Guarantee Baines Will Not Join Manchester United

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has guaranteed that Leighton Baines will not join Manchester United during the January transfer window.

The England international has not featured for the Toffees since the Merseyside Derby in November where he picked up a toe injury but is expected to return early in the New Year.

The Premier League champions made numerous attempts to sign the full back during the summer transfer window but had an offer of £12.5m rejected, in addition to a £36m double bid for both Baines and Marouane Fellaini.

Numerous reports have suggested David Moyes will launch another bid to sign his former player when the transfer window reopens but Martinez has made it clear the club will not listen to offers for the defender, underlining his importance to the club's plans for the second half of the season.

"In football you don't work long term, you go window to window and I can guarantee that Leighton will be here at the end of the season," Martinez said, Sky Sports report. "That is 100 per cent.

"That is how you work from window to window - to have a stronger squad than previously.

"Leighton is vital for us in the second half of the season. Bryan Oviedo has been terrific, but we need Leighton and Bryan fit for us, if we are going to fight for our football dream."

While Martinez has no intention of allowing Baines to leave the club in the coming weeks, it would appear Nikica Jelavic is on the way out.

The Croatian has failed to score this season and has not started a game since September and the Everton boss has indicated the striker will be allowed to leave for the good of his World Cup prospects.

"We've had a couple of enquiries from two different clubs for one of our players," the Everton boss added.

"Nikica Jelavic is someone who we have made it very clear to - we've had a conversation and he has the World Cup around the corner.

"He needs to be playing minutes and we understand that. We'll always try to give it a good assessment of the situation but that's not affecting anyone at the club.

"All we are focusing on is being as good as we can on Sunday.

"Whatever happens in January will be for the good of the football club and that's where the work is."