Everton chairman Bill Kenwright is hopeful he can do a deal to secure Gareth Barry on a permanent deal but does not expect to see any movement on the club's other loan star Romelu Lukaku until after the World Cup.
Barry had a successful season at Goodison Park after he was deemed surplus to requirements by Manchester City and now he is a free agent the Toffees want to tie him down.
There are other parties interested in signing the 33-year-old but Everton hope the 10 months he spent with them and the strides made under manager Roberto Martinez will persuade him to stay.
Lukaku, at 21 and still under contract with Chelsea, is a different matter and even getting him back on loan at the very least may be difficult as there will be no shortage of takers.
"Lukaku we would love to keep. People at Chelsea are good friends of mine so we are hopeful but he is at the World Cup now and I think we will have to see what happens at the World Cup," Kenwright told Sky Sports.
"Gareth Barry we would love to keep and that is ongoing work and we obviously have to add to the squad, so it is non-stop.
"Gareth Barry had a great season for us and I know the manager has spoken to him and I will meet with his people and we are hopeful that he will be there next season."
The first - and easiest - deal Kenwright negotiated this summer was a new five-year contract for Martinez just 12 months after he joined from Wigan.
Martinez has spoken of the need to bring in between five to seven players, both permanently and on loan, to cope with Europa League football and Kenwright is working towards achieving that.
"We have a lot to do this summer at Everton, a lot of deals and a lot of negotiations and hopefully some fresh blood (to come in)," he told evertontv.
"But always to me and the board the main one we wanted to celebrate and secure was a long contract for Roberto.
"Before Christmas I thought 'I want this man to stay forever and I want to get him on a long contract to show how much he means to us' because he is so determined to make a success of this."
Forward Magaye Gueye has left the club by mutual consent to end a disappointing stay at Goodison Park.
The 23-year-old signed from Strasbourg for £1million on five-year contract in 2010 but made just 39 appearances, the majority as substitute.
Last season he played just nine minutes, coming off the bench against Stevenage in an FA Cup fourth round tie, under Martinez.
He had another year to run on his contract but came to an agreement with the Toffees to leave this summer.
"The club would like to thank Magaye for his contribution over the last four years and wish him every success for the future," said an Everton statement.
Source: PA
