Manchester United is desperate to sign Everton players Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines, increasing their bid to £36 million still to their dismay as the toffees rejected their offer again according to The Guardian.

With only four days left in the transfer window, David Moyes' curse, of not being able to lure big names to Old Trafford, is still on.

Attempts to secure the services of the likes of Thiago Alcantara and Cesc Fabregas have all failed.

On the other hand, Everton manager Roberto Martínez remains vigilant and is keeping his options open, should the asking price of £23.5 million for Fellaini be tendered by United.

He is eyeing Wigan Athletic central midfielder James McCarthy as a possible substitute for the Belgian, confirming that an inquiry was made about McCarthy's status.

Martinez also intimated the fact that he had no idea of the increased offer by United and emphasised that he is not interested in keeping himself updated of the proceedings. He is only after the final news, if any should arise.

He kept himself distant from the situation, knowing that Moyes had been with Everton for the last decade.

"I have had enough of 'he said this, he said that'. This is a really sensitive situation because you're talking of a chairman and previous manager [Moyes] who had a relationship over 11 years. A lot of things have been said in public and I don't want to be part of that. I'm out of it. But I have never had any instruction that anything has changed."

In a world where the wealthier teams are dominating the scence because of their luxurious offers to players, loyalty and gratitude is still important.

"It's an interesting debate. Do clubs have to keep hold of players in bad moments of form or when they get injuries, and then let them go when they do well? Every time you have a good player do you have to expect to lose them because they think the grass is always greener elsewhere? It can't work like that. You have to be respectful to the club who has given you the opportunity, the club who has made the previous investment. Things need to be right for everyone."

"The competition would die otherwise because Real Madrid and Barcelona would always have the best players, the ones in form. You need to be realistic with football in general. Of course, players will always like that next challenge and to go to play Champions League football and win trophies. But there are great stories about that. Michael Owen leaves Liverpool to go to Real Madrid to win trophies and Liverpool win the Champions League. In football nothing is guaranteed. Clubs need to be strong - and be allowed to be stronger than the players."