Everton defender Leighton Baines says he is desperate for team-mate Steven Pienaar to remain at the club.
Toffees stopper keen for winger to pen new deal
Everton defender Leighton Baines says he is desperate for sought-after team-mate Steven Pienaar to remain at the club.
Pienaar is being heavily linked with a move away from Goodison Park, despite having a year left to run on his contract.
The winger was reportedly offered a club-record deal to remain at the Toffees, a charge Pienaar's representative Ivan Modia denied last month.
However, his future still remains unclear and Baines has urged his colleague to follow his lead in penning a new five-year contract to commit himself to David Moyes' side.
Baines told the
Liverpool Echo: "We've been texting each other. I've got a decent relationship with Steven and he's been sending me his holiday pictures.
"It's awkward discussing his future with him, because you want to leave him to it.
"But then at the same time I'm like my mate who is a season ticket holder and asks me what is happening.
"I start saying to him 'What's happening? Hurry up and get it sorted'. I've tried to get into him a few times about it and he just laughs it off.
"I am desperate for him to stay."
