LIVERPOOL -- Roberto Martinez has insisted that Everton are not planning to make a move for Cardiff City goalkeeper David Marshall this month.
Scotland international Marshall pulled out of the Bluebirds' Championship victory over Fulham on Saturday, amid speculation that the Toffees may be planning a move.
However, Cardiff boss Russell Slade has since revealed that the 28-year-old was missing because of an ankle injury, and is unlikely to play again before February.
Slade also said he had received no bids for his captain -- and Martinez backed that up by insisting he has made no approach.
Asked if there was anything in reports linking Everton with Marshall, Martinez said: "No."
The Toffees manager is looking for a goalkeeper to bolster his squad after U.S. international Tim Howard was ruled out until February with a calf injury sustained during the 1-0 Premier League defeat at home to Stoke on Boxing Day.
Former Spain under-21 international Joel Robles has taken over in goal, but the only other options are 18-year-olds Russell Griffiths and Jindrich Stanek, neither of whom have ever played a competitive senior game. Howard is back in light training, but is still expected to be out for several weeks.
Martinez, who takes his side to West Ham for an FA Cup third-round replay on Tuesday, confirmed that he has made enquiries for goalkeepers, saying: "We have. It's something we've done for a while now, but nothing has been conclusive. Nothing has happened in a way where we can announce any names.
"At the moment, there's nothing to mention, and we'll carry on in that way until we've got something to tell our fans."
Martinez is looking for a goalkeeper on a long-term deal, and has hinted previously that he would be ready to wait until the summer if necessary.
He remains unsure about the prospects of signing a keeper this month, adding: "The honest answer is that I don't really know. We'll look in to the options, but if we bring in anyone, it has to be someone who can stay with us for the long term and improve us in that area.
"So that's why it's not going to be clear cut. We're going to explore that avenue and if we find the right personality, we'll act on it. If not, we'll look at it in a different way and maybe give an opportunity to a youngster a little bit more quickly than we expected."
Martinez, though, is more certain about the futures of Seamus Coleman, Darren Gibson and Samuel Eto'o -- insisting that all three are staying put.
Striker Eto'o, 33, has been named as a target for Sampdoria, whose manager Sinisa Mihajlovic has since dismissed those suggestions, while right-back Coleman, 26, has been linked repeatedly with Manchester United.
Midfielder Gibson, meanwhile, has not played since suffering a knee injury in November, but has been told by his former Republic of Ireland teammate Kevin Kilbane to consider a move in order to get regular first-team football. On Eto'o, Martinez said: "I know there's been a lot of speculation, but it's nothing. We haven't been contacted about him. There have been no conversations about that issue at all."
The manager, who dismissed the chances of Coleman moving to Manchester United at the end of last month, reiterated his commitment to keeping his best players, saying: "We're not entertaining that sort of speculation about big sales. We're not going to sell our big assets in the January window. So all of those stories are just a waste of time really."
Asked to respond to former Everton midfielder Kilbane's comments in the Irish Times calling for Gibson, 27, to leave, Martinez said: "That's someone else's comments. But from our point of view, we want Darron fully fit. Darron is a phenomenal midfielder. The attributes that he brings to the squad, I don't think anyone else has them.
"We want him fighting for his position and we want him ready to enjoy his football. Those are the only things that are my concerns at the moment."