Source: Team_Talk
Kenwright insists star duo will stay
Everton chairman Bill Kenwright has no doubt key duo Steven Pienaar and Mikel Arteta will start the new season at Goodison Park.[LNB] Both players have been the subject of speculation over their futures throughout the summer.[LNB]South African midfielder Pienaar, who is now entering the final year of his contract, is yet to commit to a new deal while attempts are also being made to negotiate fresh terms with winger Arteta.[LNB]Speaking at a shareholders' forum on Wednesday evening, Kenwright said: "I can't stand here and say this is going to happen but I remain hopeful.[LNB]"It is huge, the pull of the blue. I hope they say to themselves, 'Is there anywhere better than this?'[LNB]"I am more than hopeful we will start the season with players we want to start the season with."[LNB]Manager David Moyes made the re-signing of star players his top priority over the summer.[LNB]Tim Cahill, Jack Rodwell, Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman all committed to new long-term deals.[LNB]Moyes feels he has a squad capable of competing with the best of the Premier League and is anxious to keep it together, but accepts money is an issue.[LNB]The Scot said: "We have the value on the field. We may not have it in the bank but we have it on the field.[LNB]"We have to make sure we keep the ones we have got, but wages will have to increase."[LNB]The one major negative for Everton during the summer has been the loss of promising youngster Dan Gosling to Newcastle on a free transfer.[LNB]The club's failure to make the 20-year-old a written offer of a new contract before a May deadline allowed him to move without Newcastle having to pay compensation.[LNB]When pressed on the matter, Kenwright reiterated his stance that the club had been let down.[LNB]Everton claim they had been given verbal assurances by Gosling's agent throughout contract talks that a new deal would be agreed.[LNB]Kenwright said: "If you can't rely on someone's word and handshake in this world, then we live in a world I don't want to live in."
