Everton manager Roberto Martinez has acknowledged that their form must improve to convince Kevin Mirallas to stay at Goodison Park.
Mirallas has entered the final 18 months of his contract, but told the Liverpool Echo last Thursday that talks over a new deal had been put on hold until July.
The Belgium forward said that he was in no rush to decide his future, and that he would wait until returning from his summer holiday before resuming discussions.
Mirallas, 27, was linked over the weekend with Borussia Dortmund, who are next to bottom of the Bundesliga after finishing runners-up last season.
Everton are 13th in the Premier League -- having finished fifth last season -- as they prepare to host West Brom on Monday night.
And Martinez thinks that the Toffees have to show their disappointing league form is just a one-season blip if they are to keep Mirallas.
The manager told British national newspapers: "The contract talks are not a concern at all. It is a long, long contract from our point of view.
"We haven't changed. The long-term ambition is to get into the Champions League and we will carry on working towards that."
Mirallas signed a four-year deal when he arrived from Greek side Olympiacos for 5.3 million pounds in August 2012.
Everton risk losing the forward on a free transfer if they allow him to enter the final year of his contract without a new deal in place, but Martinez insists he is unconcerned.
He said: "It is not as if his contract is up at the end of the season.
"But I think it is only normal to see where we are as a football club before he signs a new contract or decides what he wants to do.
"Nowadays, whether you have a two-year deal or a six-year deal doesn't make any difference. If you want to move on, you will do it.
"Kevin has always been very focused on developing and playing well and I do feel that the second half of the campaign will bring the best level of form that we have seen of him."