Marco Silva is prepared to extend Leighton Baines’s Everton career by another 12 months as he hailed the veteran defender’s class and professionalism.

The former England left-back is out of contract at the end of the season, as is Phil Jagielka. Discussions remain on-going with Everton’s club captain but Silva has spoken to Baines and let him know about his plans for next season.

Baines cost Everton £6million – a then club record for a defender – when he arrived from Wigan in July 2007 but he has made 411 appearances and proved to be one of the shrewdest signings the club has made in the Premier League era.

Everton are ready to hand veteran left-back Leighton Baines a new one-year contract

Lucas Digne, who has enjoyed a superb first season at Goodison Park, may have established himself as Everton’s new left-back but Silva is not prepared to let Baines drift away when his terms elapse this summer.

‘Leighton knows what is my idea already,’ said Silva. ‘I already spoke with Leighton, Jags I will do in the next few days or weeks. The idea of the club also and it is up to us to talk in the next few days and weeks to speak about this situation.

‘They will be the first ones to know what is our idea because they have all the respect of ourselves. They are fully focused on what we want in our desire and our goal as a team. They are there, they are there working really hard for us to achieve what we want because it is the most important thing.

You are talking about our captain, our sub captain they are really important players and they deserve all our respect about the situation.’

Everton manager Marco Silva was full of praise for Baines' professionalism

The Toffees remain in discussions with captain Phil Jagielka over a new deal

When Everton allowed Tim Howard to leave on a free transfer three years ago, he played the final two matches at Goodison Park to allow him to say a proper goodbye to the club and supporters after spending a decade with them.

The prospect of Baines and Jagielka being given sentimental selections in the final Goodison match of the campaign against Burnley, though, seems out of the question as Silva had made it clear that Everton are still pursuing objectives.

‘To be honest it is something that doesn’t stay in my mind,’ said Silva. ‘If you want to talk to me about the Burnley match I will tell you. I will prepare the Burnley match to win the match.

‘If you want to ask me about the Burnley match, the most important thing will be to put the best XI to win the match. 100 per cent sure I will prepare the team with the best XI to win the match.’