Everton have decided not to hold new contract talks with teenage star Wayne Rooney until the summer.
The club have decided to freeze negotiations with all their players until after the current season - and that includes Rooney, who has emerged as a target for Chelsea.
It had been expected that Everton would open negotiations to improve and extend Rooney's contract when he passed his 18th birthday in November. But that did not happen, although his agent Paul Stretford insisted there was no rush.
Now the cash-strapped club will put the block on talks with any of their players until the summer. A statement on the club's website says that Everton have made the decision to wait until the summer in order for boss David Moyes to "fully take stock of all his options".
Chief executive Michael Dunford revealed: "All contract talks will take place in the summer. The club is unlikely to be entering into any talks before then."
Rooney still has two and a half years of his current deal left and has consistently expressed his desire to continue to play for his boyhood heroes. But any delay from the club in talking seriously about a wage hike and contract extension for Rooney will only give encouragement to clubs interested in his services.
Contract talks are also expected to begin with Tomasz Radzinski in the summer. The Canadian international has 18 months remaining on his current deal.