'We are all in a strange world' - Mourinho hits back at Martinez over Stones pursuit

Posted Wednesday, July 22, 2015 by Goal.com

The Everton manager has criticised Chelsea's public chase for the English international, with the Blues boss joking that he will now only bid when the transfer window is shut

Jose Mourinho has hit back at Roberto Martinez's criticism of Chelsea's pursuit of Everton defender John Stones.

Goal understands the Premier League champions are preparing a £28 million offer having seen an initial bid of £20m rejected, with Martinez unhappy at Chelsea's "open" pursuit of the 21-year-old.

Mourinho has insisted he will up the club's bid unless he is told the player is not for sale, adding "it's an open market", and now joked that he will only bid in Martinez's "strange world" when the window shuts.

"Our strategy for the Premier League is going to change next year," Mourinho told reporters. "Next year we are going to make the first bid on the 1st of September.

"On the 1st of September we will do a bid for the season later. Because at this moment, until the 31st of August, it is closed. The market is closed. We are all in a strange world. We are all in a strange world.

"We think it is open but it is not open. It is closed. So on the 1st of September we are going to make a bid for the next season."

The expected bid for £28 million is in stark contrast to the £3m Everton paid Barnsley for Stones just two years ago, but Mourinho accepts the inflated prices now paid for young talent.

He added: "That is the market. And you only pay it if you want. If you don't want to pay it, don't pay. It's as simple as that. The market has no rules or limits from season to season.

"And the only surprise comes that the limits change – and not even the introduction of [Financial Fair Play] is able to control the market. The market is where it is and it's up to the clubs to decide yes or no."