Gerard Deulofeu wants to stay at Everton beyond this season because of the positive influence Roberto Martinez is having on his career.

Everton’s step-over king, who dazzled again in midweek in the Capital One Cup win over Middlesbrough, can be bought back by Barcelona for £6.3m this summer.

Deulofeu, 21, who has nine goals for Everton and Spain Under 21s, could be in Spain’s squad for next summer’s European Championship and credits Martinez for his progress.

Gerard Deulofeu has committed his long-term future to Everton and wants to stay beyond this season

He said: ‘He [Martinez] is the one giving the players that confidence to play. He wants young competitive players with that mix of experienced players around them and he wants us to play good football.

‘I know I need to be in the right position when we are defending, and if I’m not I won’t play.

'I know I have to carry out my defensive duties but then when I’m attacking I can take people on and put crosses into the area.’

The 21-year-old scored in Everton's mid-week League Cup quarter-final win over Middlesbrough

Romelu Lukaku has scored 13 goals this season with seven set up by his team-mate Deulofeu

Against Crystal Palace on Monday he will again line up with Romelu Lukaku, who has scored 13 goals this season with seven provided by Deulofeu, who scored the first then set up the Belgian for the second against Middlesbrough in midweek.

Everton’s chances of keeping Deulofeu are strengthened by a clause in his contract that Barcelona cannot buy him back next summer just to sell him on for a profit.

It is a tactic other big clubs in Spain have used before but if Barcelona exercise their buy-back option they will have to keep the winger.

The Spaniard has credited his manager Roberto Martinez with giving him the confidence to play

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique was happy to let Deulofeu go and the player also failed to convince Sevilla coach Unai Emery, who said: ‘He wasn’t quite able to find consistency with us. I told him: “there are players here that aspire to have your ability but they have the hunger that you need to start showing”'.

There is no shortage of hunger being shown in an Everton shirt this season and Deulofeu wants to stay where he is knows he is wanted.