Heitinga could stay at Everton

Everton defender John Heitinga will not rule out staying at the club this summer if his prospects of playing under the new manager improve.

The Dutchman has recently been quoted as saying that the Merseyside outfit may decide to cash in on him after he became disillusioned with losing his place in the first team under David Moyes.

But, Heitinga says that he plans to return to the club when the new manager takes over. Heitinga told the Liverpool Echo: "For the moment I will come to Liverpool for the start of pre-season.

"That's no punishment. We will get a new manager this summer. I don't know his vision on the game. Maybe he says, 'John must stay'. I also don't know what the chairman wants.

"Everton came with a proposal, but I decided not to sign. The club did not say that I have to leave this summer. I have a contract until 2014. I am 29 years old now and I want to play more often."

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is still the bookies favourite to take over as Everton manager.