Source: Team_Talk
Osman wants Toffees stars to stay
Everton ace Leon Osman is hoping the club can keep hold of its star players, but admits it would not be the end of the world if they cannot.[LNB] The Toffees faltered at the beginning of last season and their slow start meant they finished outside the Europa League places and missed out on a place in Europe next term.[LNB]David Moyes' men did go on an excellent run in the second half of the campaign though, and dragged themselves up to eighth in the Premier League table.[LNB]But the likes of Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar have been linked with moves away from Goodison Park, and the club are doing their best to hold onto their key men.[LNB]"We're building a quality squad at the minute and if players were to leave that then it would be disappointing," Osman told Sky Sports News.[LNB]"But football is not a long game career wise and if people were to leave we can't hang around and mope about it, we move on and move forward.[LNB]"Hopefully they don't and we're looking strong for next season, but even if they do it's not the end of the world."[LNB]Everton have already added one man to their squad in the form of striker Jermaine Beckford, who joins on a free transfer.[LNB]Beckford was a prolific marksman for former club Leeds in League One, and Osman is hoping he can do the same for the Toffees.[LNB]He added: "He's got a great goalscoring record. I haven't met him yet but I'm looking forward to meeting him and to working with him and hopefully he scores a lot of goals for the club."[LNB]Meanwhile, the 29-year-old midfielder expressed his surprise that full-back Leighton Baines did not make the final England squad for the World Cup.[LNB]Baines was expected to make Fabio Capello's 23-man party after playing in the warm-up friendly games, but the Italian opted for Stephen Warnock instead and Osman admitted being shocked at the news.[LNB]"Leighton's been quality this season and for him not to have gone definitely came as a shock to us and I'm sure a shock to a number of people," he remarked.[LNB]"But it's got nothing to do with me really or anyone else, it was up to the England manager and was his choice to make."
