Mikel Arteta believes it is imperative Everton’s board tie David Moyes to a long-term contract at Goodison Park.

The Scottish tactician has 18-months left on his existing deal and as yet, talks have not been forthcoming over an extension. Moyes has been widely lauded for the job he has done on Merseyside, with Everton competing manfully for fourth spot with neighbours Liverpool this term.

Key playmaker Arteta is of the opinion Moyes has performed miracles during his stint at the helm and is desperate to maintain a working relationship with the former Preston boss.

“He has played such a big part in turning this club around from what it was when I came here three-and-a-half years ago, He must take the credit for that and hopefully he’s going to stay. The other night, before the penalties against Fiorentina, he gathered us around and told us that, whatever happened next, he was very proud of us.”

Joleon Lescott has become the latest of Everton’s young guns to pledge his long term future to the club. The England international defender has agreed a new contract which will keep him at Goodison Park until the summer of 2012.

“This is really terrific news for everyone connected with the club,” said manager David Moyes.

“This continues our policy of securing – on long term deals – those players who not only represent Everton’s present but also its future. Since joining us Joleon has more than proved his worth and the fact he is not only happy at Goodison Park but also willing to commit his future to Everton shows that we are most definitely moving in the right direction.”

Chairman Bill Kenwright was similarly delighted after concluding negotiations with Lescott. He said: “We have worked really hard over the past 12 months or so to secure the futures of our brightest and most gifted young players – men like Joleon, Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta, Andy Johnson, Leon Osman and Tony Hibbert.

“Joleon is absolutely delighted to haver agreed this new deal. I am delighted for him and also for our supporters who have really taken him to their hearts since his arrival from Wolves.”

Lescott, who was signed from Wolves for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2006, has played 86 competitive matches for the Toffees and established himself as one of the Premier League’s best defenders – both in the position of centre-back and left-back.

His form for Everton has also seen him pick up his first international honours, having now earned four caps for England and being named in Fabio Capello’s first squad earlier this year. He has netted eight goals for Everton this term as the Toffees challenge on multiple fronts.

Everton boss David Moyes has been named Barclays manager of the month, with Liverpool striker Fernando Torres winning the player award for February.

Everton were unbeaten in the league for the month as they put themselves in contention to land fourth place and a Champions League spot. It is the fourth time Moyes has won the award and last won it in January 2006.

Torres scored a hat-trick in a 3-2 win over Middlesbrough in a February which yielded four goals in two league games.

The Spaniard’s triple was his first in the Premier League and he added to the one he scored against Reading in the Carling Cup earlier on this season.

He is currently on 18 goals in the top-flight scoring charts, with Emmanuel Adebayor, who is on 19, and 21-goal Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of him.

Borussia Dortmund have confirmed that Everton have opened talks about making Steven Pienaar’s loan move to the club a permanent one. The 25-year-old signed for The Toffees on a season-long deal from Borussia last summer.

The South African has impressed hugely during his stay on Merseyside and manager David Moyes is now looking to finalise a deal. Pienaar would cost Everton just over £2million and it now looks as if a deal is in the pipeline.

“Steven Pienaar wants to stay at Everton,” said Borussia chief Michael Zorc.

“There are clear signals that the club will take up their option to buy him.”

Everton have made their move for Pienaar after his form attracted interest from elsewhere, with clubs in Spain and France said to be keen.

But Everton have first option on the former Ajax man and look set to take advantage by securing his signature.

Rafael Benitez has sent scouts to have a look at Schalke’s highly-rated Brazilian full-back Rafinha.

The right-back, whose name translates as “Little Rafa”, has been a virtual ever-present for the Bundesliga outfit since joining from Coritiba in the summer of 2005 and a number of impressive performances have now caught the eye of the Liverpool boss.

A £5million summer move is thought to be being discussed, and the player himself has now admitted that he would be interested in making the switch to Anfield.

“Liverpool is a top destination, If a move would suit Schalke as well as myself, we can discuss it, although, Everton is also a possibility.”

However, Rafinha is under contract at Schalke until 2011 and with the club continuing to make good progress at home and in the UEFA Champions League the club’s director of football Andreas Muller admits that they would be reluctant to part with one of their prized assets.

“It is good that our players are being linked with such prestigious clubs, but we don’t want to let them go.”

The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) has written to the English FA asking for Everton manager David Moyes to be sanctioned. Moyes questioned the true age of his striker Yakubu Ayegbeni and of Nigerian players in general.

“He’s only 25, albeit a Nigerian 25, and so if that is his age he’s still got a good few years ahead of him,” Moyes told the Guardian newspaper.

NFA spokesman Ademola Olajire says the comments have embarrassed the country.

“His statement is insulting to the Nigerian nation and unbecoming of a Premier League manager,” Olajire told BBC Sport.

“We don’t take kindly to snide remarks about our players, or our nation and we have sent a strongly-worded complaint to the English FA. Seriously, we will go at any length to ensure he is brought to book to explain his comments.”

Moyes was speaking after Everton’s Uefa Cup win over SK Brann on Thursday, when he was praising Yakubu, who scored a hat-trick.