ESSENDON is moving closer to securing free agent David Zaharakis beyond 2017, after announcing on Monday it had locked in Joe Daniher until 2020.

Bombers coach John Worsfold said on Wednesday he hoped the club would re-sign the 26-year-old soon.

Zaharakis has played 160 games with the club since making his debut in 2009 and won the club best and fairest in just his third season.

Worsfold said he was one of the players the club was keen on retaining. 

"I don't know where all the negotiations are at, but we are working to him being re-signed," Worsfold said.

Zaharakis said recently he was waiting for the finalisation of the League's collective bargaining agreement with the AFL Players' Association before putting pen to paper, and that he preferred to stay the club he grew up supporting.

Apart from Zaharakis, the Bombers are still working on coming to terms with midfield gun Darcy Parish, who is nearing the end of his second season.

The expectation is that he will remain at the club.