Lacina Traore
Martinez wants another deal for Traore.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez is eager to keen to extend Lacina Traore's loan deal at Goodison Park into next season.

The 6ft 8in striker arrived on Merseyside during the January transfer window on loan deal until the end of the season, having only just signed for free-spending Monaco from Anzhi Makhachkala weeks earlier.

The Ivorian scored four minutes into his debut for Everton against Swansea but suffered a leg injury that ended his season prematurely.

Although his impact has been limited, Toffees manager Martinez is keen to retain Traore's services with Romelu Lukaku's loan spell at the club set to end this summer as he aims to assemble a squad capable of challenging in Europe.

"It depends on our European demands, if we are competing in Europe then we will need four strikers," Martinez told the Liverpool Echo.

"Steve Naismith and Arouna Kone are two players who are important in our squad and we need to make sure we are at the start of the next season with a strong squad and in my eyes, we will be having four strikers in the group.

"Lacina is someone we really believe can bring something different to the team and he is someone we will try to see if we can get an opportunity to sit down and see what is the next chapter."

Speculation surrounding the futures of young duo Ross Barkley and John Stones is likely to follow Everton into the summer transfer window but having already secured the futures of three key first team players; Martinez insists his squad will remain intact.

"We have got a very strong core of experienced players and the signing of Tim Howard, alongside Leighton Baines and Sylvain Distin on new deals, is a massive message," Martinez continued.

"And then we have a young group who we are going to allow to develop in our football club and be given the time, patience and the focus that they deserve to grow in to the potential we know they have.

"We always try to go from window to window trying to get in a stronger position in terms of the squad. We will never change that."