Following Cahill's contract extension, the likely deal to tie up Rodwell, and Arteta's apparent comittment to Everton, that would leave Pienaar as the player most likely to depart. Pienaar has undoubtedly had an exceptional season for Everton but – with a year remaining on his contract, the forthcoming World Cup and his age – Pienaar may consider that he has one last big-money move.

After being linked with Joao Moutinho for what seems like an eternity and after watching his performance for Sporting against Everton, my preference would be to target Moutinho if Pienaar sees his future elsewhere. He has all the attributes that Moyes targets in a player and his flair and creativity alongside Arteta, Rodwell, Heitinga, Fellaini would be frightening!

I think Everton will make one last bid to improve their offer then sadly have to give in to the overtures of Pienaar's Mr 10%. I must admit that, much as I'd like to keep him because he is no doubt an exceptional talent, the thought of him playing out his contract in front of our fans fills me with dread.

The worst possible scenario will see him playing out his current contract on the bench or in the treatment room. Better to have some honesty about his intentions so we all know where we stand and he gets sold immediately after the World Cup and we get sufficient time to find some sort of replacement.

Spurs obviously like the look of him and Harry has been known to splash the cash although I for one will never forgive him for selling us those two duck eggs Williamson and Bilic. As for a replacement, Marin, Moutinho come to mind but realistically his departure is going to weaken the project.

I would go all out for Marin, to me he has a streak of Alan Ball in him.

His career was going nowhere when Moyes gave him a break, he has admitted as much himself. How does he repay the manager and the club? By asking for astronomical wages to no doubt force a transfer.

In my opinion, no matter how good he is, if he does not want to stay, fuck him off and get we can asap.

He wants to wait till after the World Cup? Tough shit, fuck him off now as miserable players can spread dissent through a squad.

One last thing, as good as he is, he is not irreplaceable, he dosnt score enough for a start.

He's on the list...

He is one of the players that always bust a gut for the team, never shirked a challenge or failed to track back and when he was on song... boy, he played some great stuff. We have always had a good week's work from the lad in exchange for his pay and that is all you can ask from any employee.

If he now thinks he can get a better deal elsewhere, then I have no problems with that — especially as we have the news early enough to get a decent fee, make a nice profit and have time to source a replacement.

This is the business we are in: players come and players go but the club endures. Let's just hope that the lad who fills Pienaar's shirt will work just as hard for the club. It's the shirt that counts, not who is inside it.

Long-term contracts mean nothing — don't be fooled. Clubs/players sign them so they can sell players a year or so later for a higher price. Don't be fooled into believing that he'll stay for 5 years.

Cahil wouldn't have been able to sign for any top 4 club. None of them would have signed him because he's too old and doesn't fit in with the way any of them play. He can't pass, doesn't work particularly hard, but does do his job well — that job is at Everton where his role is clear, not any one of the top 4 clubs has ever taken an interest in him as far as I'm aware. I dispute your assumption massively.

As for Arteta, well that's pure speculation because he's neither signed a new deal, nor has he been tapped up by anyone else so I don't see that I've contradicted myself in the slightest.

With respect, you're falling into that trap of assumption being the mother of all fuck-ups!

If it's just money alone, I will be disappointed, not that I blame someone leaving for bigger money, just for all the religious stuff he comes out with. A la God is Great so money shouldn't be his main motivator. I envisage a big season next year for Bily so I'd like to get LD in for the RW. As for Joe Cole he would be great but as he wants £100k per week that's a non-starter.

I won't shed any tears for Pienaar and he will just be a name that is registered as playing for us — nothing else; he is a great little player, no world beater. We have lost far better players and will sign far better players.

However, we are not talking about leaving a job for £20k per year for one for £25k a year. The salary Pienaar is being offered at Everton makes him exceptionally well paid and I believe he is not as good as he thinks he is. We have made him the player he is today — before he signed for us, had anyone heard of him ? He now believes he is bigger than EFC and that is what disappoints me. Well my message to him is: You are NOT bigger than EFC and never will be. We should sell him immediately and try and buy Moutinho who is a far better player and who can comfortably play left midfield.

I put money on it that Pienaar will be a failure wherever he goes, he will not play regularly at a CL team and he will not like that. Still, he will have his extra 10k a week (taxed at 50%) to console him — good luck Steven .......

Also, the dogs in the street knew that Pienaar's contract was running down. It was discussed here, this time last year. The club should have moved before now, but of course we are Everton...

Not a repeat of last summer, thank you very much.

No matter how things "appear" or "seem" to the 'throw away the key' mob, nobody really knows what's been offered to who.

Pienaar has been a terrific buy for Everton, if he sees out his contract we'd have still gotten tremendous value for the £2 Million we paid for him; if he goes, we'll probably see a tidy profit too.

This guy will be starring for the host nation in the biggest competition on earth... I don't see putting a few stone throwers out of their misery as being very high on his list of priorities.

It would be no surprise to any of us if the club really need to sacrifice a player to stay solvent; maybe they have decided Pienaar is to be that player. Easily done... simply make him an offer they know he won't accept.

The only thing we really know is that If the BOTH parties really want the contract signed, it will happen.

For the past ten months, Pienaar has been telling us about how Louis told him of Bayern's interest on the training pitch which was ever so flattering and now his agent is holding a gun to our heads with his latest comment.

Graeme Sharp told the Cammel Laird social club back in November in front of Elstone that there is no way Pienaar will sign a new contract and I have never once doubted what he said, but it would be nice to be proved wrong.

Remember – 'tis better the devil you know than the devil you don't. Pienaar has proven his worth to Everton, a replacement has not... so I'd rather keep Pienaar than lose him.

Pienaar's agent Ivan Modia said: 'My guess is that if, by the first match of the 2010 World Cup, we have been unable to take Steven an improved offer, then he will assume that Everton's position is final.

'The club are very busy concluding other players on long-term deals, most of whom have longer to run on their contract than Pienaar.

'That could mean one of three things: Either they wish to conclude other business before making a final offer, or it could mean that they have decided to sell him, or that they are satisfied that Pienaar walks away in 12 months as a free agent.'

I would gladly play for Everton for the pittance I earn at present, I absolutely mean that. I don't claim that makes me a great Evertonian, in fact it probably makes me a sad bastard. Walking out to Z-Cars must be the greatest feeling on earth and it angers me, unreasonably I'm sure, that someone will walk away from it for money.

I suppose I must just accept that, with a few exceptions, that this is the difference between players and supporters. I think we are lucky at Everton in that we have some players who take a fan's view. As for Pienaar, let's just get it done.

Whatever happens will happen and contract negotiations will become protracted with a lot of players. All this will make our heads spin. If Peanuts is unhappy let him go. Sure he can play a bit but he's not that good. If he can fetch a good profit, do it and move on to someone younger and eagre who wants to play for Everton.

He's burnt his bridges with the fans and will get stick, if he stays, every time he puts a foot wrong or is perceived to not be trying his best. I would think £10million if we're lucky... maybe £12million tops. Get the lad Noble from West Ham, he's a fine young player.

However, it's not just Everton that suffer from this kind of thing. In recent seasons Arsenal have seen Hleib, Henry and now probably Fabregas leave to go to the Nou Camp. Does that make them a feeder club for Barcelona? Only if you're a Spurs fan wanting to take the piss. But I am sure that Arsenal fans are not too chuffed at the thought of losing another of their star players to Barcelona.

If the worst case scenario for Evertonians happens — i.e. Pienaar & Arteta are transfer targets for some of the richer clubs — then I hope that Moyes follows the example of Wenger. That is to say, don't try and drag things out, leaving us only a couple of weeks before the end of the transfer window to bring in replacements. Try and do a good deal, but as soon as possible so that there is enough time BEFORE the start of the season to bring in any replacements.

And as regards plan B. Sorry this isn't meant to be an anti-Moyes comment — but I would have thought that any manager/coach worth his salt would regard team building as an ongoing thing and would be aware of the up-and-coming players/players coming to the end of their contracts/players available for loan. Isn't that part of the job? For example, you don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to be aware that Henry has not had the best of seasons at Barca and with the arrival of David Villa, he may well have become 3rd/4th choice. I wouldn't be surprised to see someone coming in for him either a permanent deal or loan? A possibility for Everton? Why not?

With Barcelona, David Villa is now the main man. Who knows, maybe Barca don't want to lose him completely — a loan deal could therfore be in the interests of all parties and Barca might be willing to pay part of his salary.

As I said, it's just an example of the kind of deal that could be considered. Given the fickle nature of the likes of Real Madrid, Barcalona and other Spanish clubs, there are several players once in the "superstar" bracket that are surplus to requirements, sometimes due to a change in club President. Huntelaar and Robben at Real Madrid being two examples.

And, after all, wasn't Pienaar seen as being a "failure" at Borussia Dortmund and they wanted to ofload him? It's surely worthwhile Moyes being aware of other players that are now in that situation.

NO-ONE commenting on this site knows what is going on and a lot of baseless assumptions are being made too hastily for my peace of mind. He was our most consistent player over the past season and, even though his contract is 'up in the air', he has never shirked or sulked in any game I have seen him play in.

He is a consummate professional and a credit to the game... he has been fouled more than anyone this season and for my money I really want him to stay. I am sure he will be 'high profile' in this coming World Cup as he makes sure he is always involved in any match he plays in.

He does NOT make easy square passes and enjoys running with the ball as he is a very confident individual... Baines has blossomed with Pienaar's support and Baines's game has come on a lot since he formed an understanding with Pienaar. I don't believe Baines would be in the England squad without the help of Pienaar in developing his game and improving his confidence.

If Pienaar is not earning the same money as Cahill and Arteta, then I do not blame him for making his stand because I reckon he is worth it. If there is something more he wants then that is another matter and until EFC clarify the situation (which I am sure they will not)... it is all just conjecture!!!

From what I've heard from his agent, he said he wants his future sorted before the World Cup; them no, not now, but after... and presently, he wants it sorted before the World Cup. Make up your bloody mind!

I think people are making stuff up to back up their opinion here. My opinion (based on assumptions which may not be true) is that when we first signed him, a game of brinkmanship was played so he got a good wage. Of course, he shouldn't moan about what he's being paid — he agreed to it — no slave labour here.

Now, EFC believe they can pay him less than the top earners and they're calling his bluff as they don't think his earning potential will rocket after the World Cup and, even if SA have a great World Cup and it does, the transfer value on his head will increase.

His agent speaks about 3 options, why taking longer than other players — how about a 4th option: others are easier to negotiate with as they are more than willing to sign for the club.

I don't think he would be asking for money outside the existing pay structure. What would be the point? If he wants to go, then plenty of clubs are interested in him so why not just go? He would then get more money if that is his prime motive.

Something stinks here. He should be one of the top earners at the club. Did the club not make him Player of the Season. So why are they not offering him top money... and my guess is they are not?

I know we are only guessing as to what is going on but my gut feelings now are that the club are starting to look a bit shady. I suspect that they are not offering him parity with the other top earners. If that is the case, then the club may have decided to cash in and this is just a smoke screen in order to sell one of our best players and not upset the fans. We all know that they are going to have to sell to buy. Moyes only had the Lescott cash last year.

Pienaar was offered a contract last year but chose not to sign it; today, we are told he is and has been earning less money than other players... is it not logical to believe that, although he was offered improved terms, he was not offered parity; and if he was, why doesn't somebody at the club refute the statement ?

While the club remain silent, we have to try to piece together what is actually happening here.

Sticking a wet finger in the air and declaring him a greedy bastard without anything to back it up doesn't strike me as being open-minded.

If this prick of an agent is talking out of his rear end, why do the club remain silent?

Are you telling me the Yak deserves to be paid more than him, or even Saha who is constantly injured?? Heitinga came in on £60k a week before he even kicked a ball... I don't see why we can't put Pienaar on the same money knowing how influential he is. In any other working environment, he would be walking away as he the best worker is getting paid lower than other lazy, not as good people in his "office".

I for one hope he does stay as playing wise he is a breath of fresh air and I just hope that, if he does, people don't give him a hard time for wanting to be paid the same as people who haven't performed as well as him and in most supporter's eyes are not going to in the future.

The guy is coming to his prime... For god's sake offer him the same as the top earners and publicly say so. If he wants more, come out and say he wants more than the top earners and then sell him. Case closed.

And what about this for a posuer, Eduardo to replace The Yak? Both are reasonably priced and would give EFC a new dimension.