Everton manager David Moyes has admitted he is “resigned” to losing star midfielder Steven Pienaar at the end of the campaign.
South Africa international Pienaar, in the final year of his contract, snubbed the chance to pen a new deal in the summer.
And although Moyes insists there is a contract offer on the table, he concedes it is looking increasingly likely that Pienaar will leave on a Bosman free transfer in the summer.
Moyes said: “I have probably resigned myself to him leaving but I knew that when there was no contract signed in the summer.
“We bought him for £2.5m and you tend to find people in the last year of their contract have to play out of their skin to impress suitors.
“If it is the money they want they are going to have to play well to show they are worth the wages they want. I will try and use it to my advantage.
“There is a really good contract offer there for him but, to be fair, he has stood up for us this season and has done some really good things on the pitch.”