United Defender Target Can Enjoy Football Again After Deadline Day Madness

Roberto Martinez says Leighton Baines is in a good position to enjoy his football at Everton again after the defender after constant speculation of a move to Manchester United in the transfer window.

United placed a bid for Baines along with Marouane Fellaini which was swiftly rejected by the Toffees with weeks left in the summer period. The club ended up landing Fellaini in the dying hours of deadline day but were unable to agree a fee for his now-former teammate.

Martinez has championed the closing of the transfer window before the start of the season and although he has claimed that Baines has been professional amid talk of a move to United he believes the England international will enjoy his football without the possibility of a change in clubs hanging over his head.

"We need to focus on our individual and collective targets now, and it will help that we go back to normality," Martinez told the Liverpool Echo. "Leighton is a fantastic professional and a top footballer. He's an icon for Everton and now is the time he can concentrate on his game and enjoy his football here.

"I think that's what the window does, it gives clubs that instability. In any walk of life when new opportunities come along people think about new possibilities or options in your career.

"That's natural and there is a time for that, but my problem has always been that with the current set-up the window happens while games are being played. Now everyone has got to focus and Leighton is one of the big, big players we have at the club."

While Everton lost Fellaini in the summer the club gained Romelu Lukaku and James McCarthy on deadline day, signifying a much busier transfer window for the club than in recent seasons.

The Toffees are yet to win a league match under Martinez but the manager will be keen to turn his fortunes around when they take on Chelsea at Goodison Park this weekend.