Keith Wyness, the Everton chief executive, expressed confidence yesterday that David Moyes will sign a new contract with the club in the face of lingering uncertainty over the manager's position. Moyes's contract expires at the end of next season, but while he has been in talks with Bill Kenwright, the Everton chairman, since the turn of the year about a lucrative new deal, an agreement has not been reached.

“Bill and David have been deep in discussions for some months,” Wyness said. “Those talks are going fine, there is absolutely no problem there at all.”

Kenwright is thought to have given Moyes assurances that the club will match his ambitions by making funds available for high-calibre players in the transfer market this summer.

Steve Sidwell, the £3million-rated Chelsea midfield player, and Michael Bradley, the Heerenveen midfield player who would cost about £4.5million, are targets, although Moyes has indicated that if the club are serious about challenging for a Champions League place they may have to break their £11.25million transfer record.

A point at home to Newcastle United on Sunday would guarantee Uefa Cup football next season and Moyes said: “We have a responsibility to get good players in and we expect to. If we can add those players to the ones we have, hopefully we will do as well again and maybe even better.”