EVERTON'S financial constraints could persuade David Moyes to extend the Goodison careers of his out-of-contract players this summer.
Moyes will spend this week assessing his options in the knowledge he will be handed a purse of only around £6-7million to spend during the forthcoming transfer window, with four of his current squad becoming free agents at the end of the season.
The Everton manager has previously insisted he will not make any decision over any of their futures until after Sunday's final game of the season at home to West Bromwich Albion.
But the lack of genuine spending power and an already under-populated squad may compel Moyes to offer each of them new contracts.
The Goodison manager has already intimated 39-year-old Nigel Martyn will be handed a deal should he recover from the hairline fracture of his ankle that has sidelined him since January, with a final judgement being made after the goalkeeper has the injury re-assessed in June.
Centre-back pairing David Weir, 35, and Alan Stubbs, 34, also fall out of contract. But with doubts recently raised over whether Matteo Ferrari's loan deal will become a permanent transfer and Joseph Yobo refusing to commit his long-term future to the club, Moyes has no intention of losing all four senior central defenders.
Similarly, the Everton manager may still ask 34-year-old Duncan Ferguson to stay on for another year to bolster the club's meagre attacking resources.