Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard hopes team-mate Steven Pienaar will sign a new deal to stay at Goodison Park.
Keeper pleads for midfielder to stay put
Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard hopes team-mate Steven Pienaar will sign a new deal to stay at Goodison Park.
Pienaar's future has been the subject of intense speculation, with the midfielder out of contract at the end of the season.
A number of clubs, including Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan are all thought to be waiting in the wings to sign Pienaar if he decides to leave Everton.
However, Howard hopes the South Africa international will opt to extend his stay at Goodison as he concedes it is vital the club keep hold of their best players.
"Well I think everyone knows how we feel about Steven, he helps to make our team go and we are a much more successful side with him in it," Howard told
Sky Sports News.
"I don't pretend to have the first idea about Steven and his contract issues.
"I want him to stay, everyone wants him to stay, but that's up to him and the club.
"It is important for us to keep those core players happy and settled and keep them here for a long time because that's how we attract better top quality players. That's how we move up the table and sustain ourselves in the European places every year so it is vitally important."
