Bill Kenwright remains hopeful midfielder stars Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar will start the new season with Everton.
Reported Tottenham target Pienaar is entering the final year of his Toffees deal and is yet to sign a new contract, while Barcelona are thought to have Arteta in their sights if they fail to land Cesc Fabregas.
But speaking at a shareholders’ forum on Wednesday night, chairman Kenwright said: “I can’t stand here and say this is going to happen but I remain hopeful.
“It is huge, the pull of the blue. I hope they say to themselves, ‘Is there anywhere better than this?’
“I am more than hopeful we will start the season with players we want to start the season with.”
Kenwright also maintained the club feel let down by midfield starlet Dan Gosling, who left the club to join Premier League rivals Newcastle this summer.
Gosling, 20, was able to leave for no fee after the Toffees failed to follow up a verbal agreement with a formal written offer prior to a May deadline.
The chairman added: “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.”