Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar has admitted that he is hoping Leighton Baines will stay at the club this summer.

The left-back has been continually linked with Manchester United all summer, though no official bids have been made.

Pienaar, who re-signed for Everton this week for £4.5m, has said that the Toffees need to retain their best players for the coming season. The South African highlighted Baines's importance to the side, claiming that he is a "vital player".

"It's not up to me. It's up to the club to keep their best players but hopefully he'll stay and so will the rest of the guys. It will be important for the team," Pienaar told The Guardian.

"We had a good understanding in the last couple of seasons so, if he stays, it will just make everyone happy as well because we know how important he is to the entire team.

"He can score goals from set pieces and it's not just me who benefits from playing alongside him. He's a vital player for the club  everyone knows it from the manager to the supporters. Let's hope and see if we can hold on to him."

Baines, 27, joined Everton from Wigan Athletic in 2007.