Getting Alan Mannus to sign a new contract is one of St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright’s next priorities.
Chris Millar, David Wotherspoon, Brian Easton and Dave Mackay have all agreed fresh deals in the last few weeks.
And Wright is hopeful that his fellow Northern Irishman will follow suit.
“We are talking to Alan Mannus,” the Perth boss confirmed.
“We want him to stay and he knows that. That is no secret. There is an option for him to stay but talks are ongoing.
“His save from Gary Mackay-Steven on Saturday was top drawer. He kept us in the game against Celtic.”
Wright will attempt to add firepower to his squad in the close-season, but he’s charged the strikers currently at his disposal with the task of firing the club back into the top six.
“We will need to strengthen in forward areas in the summer,” he admitted.
“Goals have been a problem for us this year. We have scored nine goals less so far in the league but we have conceded less. We had scored 31 but conceded 30 at this stage last season and so far we have scored 22 and lost 27.
“It’s been difficult and it always was going to be after losing Stevie May, who scored 27 goals last year, but Steven MacLean was also out for months.
“So the players have been magnificent to keep us in contention. That is why we still have a great chance of top six.
“Normally with that goals for column you’d be around the bottom three. We are well aware of that. But we still have an unbelievable chance of making the top six.
“But scoring goals is the one area we need to improve on over the next eight games before the split.”
Saints may have dropped below Dundee in the Premiership table, but Wright does not believe their recent form is a cause for concern.
He pointed out: “We could easily have picked up three points from Aberdeen. Take the cup defeat from Queen of the South out of it and the performances have been good. We have to take that into the league games.
“We are still two points better off than at this stage last year but we know we now need a big push for the top six.
“You can’t rule out ourselves, Dundee or Kilmarnock catching Hamilton in fifth place. It is four from two.
“It makes it exciting for the fans that we are battling with Dundee and that derby is the last game before the split.
“It is simple – we need to get three more points than Dundee.
“We should have won at Motherwell. Against Celtic we were denied by the save of the season from Craig Gordon.”