North met with Goldstein's manager, Tom Petroro of Stride Sports, on Monday and both parties told AFL.com.au on Wednesday that talks had been positive.
"We've been discussing Todd for a while and spoken to his manager, Tommy Petroro, early this week," football director Geoff Walsh said.
"We think we're getting reasonably close."
Petroro said negotiations on a new contract for the restricted free agent were "progressing quite well".
AFL.com.au understands Goldstein is likely to sign a short-term contract with the Roos, most likely for two years, after the parties could not agree on the terms on a longer agreement.
Goldstein signed his existing two-year contract in January 2012 amid reports Greater Western Sydney was targeting the ruckman as one of the uncontracted players it was permitted to sign in its first two years.
It is understood Goldstein is already on about $400,000-450,000 a season, with one opposition list manager telling AFL.com.au that rival clubs could be prepared to offer him up to $600,000 a season.
However, industry sources suggest the Roos will be looking to re-sign Goldstein on a deal of about $500,000 a season.
North opened its negotiations with Goldstein late last year, keen to secure the player who has carried its ruck division almost solely since 2011.
Walsh said in January that North was "a fair way down the track" in its talks with Goldstein, but the parties have made slow progress until recently.
Goldstein, 25, has played 109 games for North since making his debut in 2008, having been taken at pick No. 37 in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft.
At the time, Goldstein, who represented Australia in basketball at under-19 level, had only played football for a year, but North's surprise selection has proved to be an inspired one.
The ruckman finished a career-best third in North's best and fairest award last season and made the preliminary All Australian squad in 2011 and 2013.
North has already re-signed two of its five 2014 free agents, with Lachlan Hansen (restricted) and Leigh Adams (unrestricted) recently recommitting to the club.
Veterans Brent Harvey and Michael Firrito are unrestricted free agents, but both are highly unlikely to leave North.
Twitter: @AFL_Nick
