Ronald Koeman has confirmed that Romelu Lukaku is close to signing a new deal with the club, and admitted talks were due to take place to hand fresh terms to Ross Barkley.
The Everton duo have become two of the Toffees' most vital players this season, and the attacking pair have drawn admiring glances from other European clubs as a result.
Lukaku has notched 18 goals this season after initially wanting to leave Goodison Park last summer, and speculation earlier in the week suggested that the striker would finally put pen-to-paper on a new five-year, £100,000-a-week deal ahead of the weekend clash with West Bromwich Albion.
Duncan Ferguson presents a plaque to Romelu Lukaku for becoming Everton's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer. � pic.twitter.com/PomNiqxgA5
Asked if Lukaku had pen in hand ready to sign, however, Koeman told the press (via the Liverpool Echo) that he had not yet signed on the dotted line but that he was close to doing so.
He said: "It is still not signed. Is it close? Yes, what I heard, yes."
Boyhood Blue Barkley is another Everton star whose current deal is drawing towards its end, with the playmaker due to be out of contract in the summer of 2018.
 | Check out the stats that prove @RBarkley20 has his mojo back  https://t.co/9PzRO40lGI. pic.twitter.com/KA36e2IJ5v
No word about the 23-year-old being given his own improved terms to remain on Merseyside have emerged - a move that had led some Evertonians to fear that the club was acting too slow to tie down another of its stars - but Koeman revealed that discussions would take place sooner rather than later.
He continued: The situation about these players who finish the contract after one year, he's one of them, we will do everything to keep Ross. The talks are planned.�
The Netherlands legend also provided an update on his injured trio ahead of the visit of the Baggies, and had good news regarding Yannick Bolasie's second knee operation, as well as stating that Muhamed Besic and Domininc Calvert-Lewin were on the cusp of footballing returns.
He added: Dominic is now fit and can be part of the team for the weekend.
Yannick had his surgery yesterday morning and it was really positive. There's still a long way to go for the boy but at least second surgery is behind him. He's working hard to come back as soon as possible.
Mo Besic is doing well. He's had tests as part of his fitness and he is part of every training session but needs to take more steps. He needs to play a part of Under-23 games. We don't know if he will be really fit to play in the first-team this season.�
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