Leighton Baines is delighted he chose to stay with Everton.
The England left-back came close to signing for Manchester United last season.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Baines said: "What the club has done lately is retain its best players.
"Everyone here who has been linked with someone has stayed and committed to the club. The younger lads; Ross, Stonesy, Seamus have all been linked with clubs and they've all got their best football ahead of them, but they're all happy to do it here. That's as big as anything for me.
"The manager was telling me that's what he wanted to do when I signed my contract.
"I signed following that summer of the whole United thing, but that was in their minds back then in terms of how to change the status and perception so we can keep hold of players when other clubs come calling."
