DAVID MOYES is refusing to sweat over Louis Saha's contract talks despite the French striker having yet to sign a new deal at Goodison.

Saha is out of contract at the end of the season and, although negotiations are ongoing over a fresh agreement, is now free to talk to foreign clubs over a future transfer.

It is believed the main stumbling block is that Everton's financial restraints make them reluctant to hand over a substantial wage to a player whose injury concerns, despite far less serious than in recent years, continue to limit his appearances.

Saha has played in three consecutive games only once this season and has missed Everton's last two outings with a hamstring problem that again threatens his involvement at Arsenal today.

However, the 31-year-old remains the club's leading goalscorer this season with 12 goals in 21 outings.

And Moyes reckons that with Saha having six months left on his current deal, there is still plenty of time for the Frenchman to put pen to paper.

"There are things going on at the moment," said the Goodison manager. "The negotiations are ongoing with the chairman and Louis's representatives. That's all I can tell you at the moment.

"It doesn't need to be resolved right now because he is under contract until the end of the season. There's no great rush to do so.

"If he went abroad he can sign a pre-contract but he can't in this country. I don't see it being too big an issue."

Saha has an outside chance of playing today having returned to training after missing the previous two games with a hamstring problem.

His injury prompted a striker crisis last week with Jo's suspension and Yakubu's international commitments leaving James Vaughan as the only available senior striker.

That situation has eased this week with the arrival of Landon Donovan for his 10-week loan spell, with the United States international thrown immediately into the squad for this afternoon's trip to the Emirates.

"I hope the other players are given confidence by his arrival and they see that we have brought in a proven international player who we hope can help us," said Moyes.

"It will be difficult to expect any player to come to another country and deliver immediately.

"You always have to give people time. I think that Landon though could play quite a lot of games in the two and a half months he is here. Hopefully he can help us in some of the cups and in the league and if he does that it will be a help to the team.

"We still want to bring in another two or three if we can. But I don't think, in the present climate, there will be too many players available for loan."

Jo, on a season-long loan from Manchester City, will return to training at Finch Farm next week after going AWOL over Christmas, but Moyes refused to be drawn on the striker's career prospects at Goodison.

"Brazilian Jo will back at the club next week following his suspension," confirmed the manager. "He has been fined heavily and he knows the situation. We will look at it more next week.

"I don't think it is a big discussion point. We have dealt with it and should now move on."