Both players have yet to commit themselves to the club for season five of the A-League but there is no question the club would love them to stay.

"Kevin is such an important part of Melbourne Victory. He means so much to us and we're still in some very serious negotiations," Victory football operations manager Gary Cole said.

Considering how eager the club appears to get Muscat back on board for what would be his 19th season as a professional, it would appear that the only one unconvinced as to whether he should play on is the player himself.

"We're working out at it, and I can only stress how important it is to get the job done. All I know is we really want to make that happen and hopefully we can do that sooner rather than later," said Cole.

If Muscat does depart, it would mean Melbourne would have lost three defenders since the end of last season and only signed one, Thai international Surat Sukha. It would mean the club would need to find another first-choice option at heart of defence. But coach Ernie Merrick does not believe it will come to that.

"There's always a concern from the coach, but I've spoken to him personally and I'm quite confident we'll get him over the line," said Merrick.

There is no such issue with the goalkeepers, given Melbourne already signed former Phoenix stopper Glenn Moss assuming Theoklitos would take up a European contract for this season.

But it could yet be left with three genuine first-choice options, given Theoklitos, who has been one of the A-League's best in his four years with the club, is yet to find a suitable deal overseas. Merrick said the club would be happy to have Theoklitos back for this season but that the decision was in the 28-year old's hands.

"I'm not sure what will happen in Michael's situation," Merrick said. "He has aspirations to go overseas and any player who's gone overseas we've helped. That will work itself over the next few weeks."

"We've got two tremendous back-up goalkeepers in Mitch (Langerak), who is playing better than ever and New Zealand national team goalkeeper Glenn Moss."