England manager Roy Hodgson has called on Everton defender John Stones to ignore the transfer speculation surrounding him and focus on EURO 2016.
Stones, 22, is likely to be in the confirmed England 23-man this afternoon, but Hodgson has insisted that all players are concentrated solely on England’s campaign in France.
“The one thing this group of players knows, and has accepted, is that when you are on England duty, you are on England duty. It’s not a question of sorting out your future or diving off for medicals.”
Stones has been linked with moves to both Manchester clubs, Barcelona and Chelsea- who had three bids for the former Barnsley man turned down last summer.
However Hodgson is realistic about players being in contact with their agents during the build-up to the tournament, but he is adamant that nothing will disrupt preparations.
“You (England players) have to accept that there’s a good chance that if you say you want to go for a medical that we will say ‘ we are not allowing that and you better bring your people here’.”
“We can facilitate, we are not trying to block player’s futures or transfers”, added the England boss.