LIVERPOOL -- Everton manager Roberto Martinez said that Ross Barkley will not be leaving in January -- and has confirmed his transfer window priority is an experienced goalkeeper on a long-term deal.
Manchester City have long been linked with a move for the England midfielder, with reports over the weekend suggesting that they were lining up a 45 million-pound bid.
Martinez, though, says that he has had no contact from City regarding the 20-year-old, and would knock back any approach anyway.
Indeed, the Everton manager, who recently dismissed suggestions that full-back Seamus Coleman would be heading to Manchester United, is adamant that none of his players will be leaving in January.
Asked if he had been approached by any club over Barkley, Martinez said: "No, we haven't. As you can imagine, this January window is vital for us. We are concentrating on recapturing our best moment of form, and starting to perform in the way that we can, to start building some good momentum in our season.
"You can imagine that all of our best performers, even if they get a lot of attention and compliments from the outside, it's going to end at that. There won't be anyone going in January."
When Manchester United were linked with Barkley ahead of the January 2014 transfer window, Martinez joked that the reported 50 million-pound fee would not even be enough to get him on loan.
But the Spanish manager feels it is wrong to put a price tag on the player, saying: "When it comes to valuations, we'll always be biased. I really enjoy watching the way Ross develops on a daily basis, and the way he performs.
"He's one of those players who has real passion for the game and enjoys playing football. You would always pay a good entrance fee to watch a player such as Ross Barkley enjoying his football."
Martinez's priority in January is to sign an experienced goalkeeper, with Tim Howard out for "six or seven weeks" with the calf injury he sustained during the 1-0 Premier League home defeat against Stoke on Boxing Day.
Joel Robles, who came on as a substitute for Howard that day and has started their two matches since, is set to retain his place for Tuesday's FA Cup third-round home tie against West Ham.
But the only other goalkeepers registered with the first-team squad are 18-year-olds Russell Griffiths and Jindrich Stanek, neither of whom have ever played a competitive senior game. Martinez has indicated that he wants to send both Griffiths and Stanek out on loan to gain first-team experience before giving them an Everton debut. And his plan is to sign a keeper on a long-term deal before the end of the month.
He said: "Tim Howard is going to be out for six or seven weeks. We're a little bit exposed in that department. There's only Joel in the squad with any sort of experience in the league.
"The other two young players we have at the club have got terrific potential, but it would be a bit unfair to put them in a situation where they have to win football games. So we're looking into that position and trying to see if we can take it a bit further.
"At the moment, with the situation the team is in, I don't think it would be positive for any youngster to have to cope with a debut. You want the young players to be ready. When they are ready, then we are always ready to give them opportunities.
"If you ask me now, I think we need to be very much relying on experienced hands, and that's why we will look into that situation."
Asked if he had any keepers in mind, Martinez said: "There are a couple of options I feel could fit really well, but I'm not bringing in anyone just for the sake of it.
"That's something I will assess. Unless we can bring in a goalkeeper who can fit well into the way we want to play and the way we are as a team, I wouldn't bring in just anyone to stop the development of youngsters.
"I feel the youngsters' future is there, even though we need to be careful now that Tim Howard is not someone we miss too much in this period. I would rather make it as a long-term signing. We've only got Tim and Joel as first-team goalkeepers. The young players have shown a lot of potential, but they probably need to play league football before they can be thrown into first-team action here.
"If we could bring in a goalkeeper, it would be with the sense of a long-term deal. I don't think a short-term deal would be a good solution for where we are now."