"I hope he can stay and we're planning for him to stay I think,that's between him and his manager to sort that out,he's obviously a very important player to our club,"he said.
North Melbourne offered Higgins a contract extension last week to tie him to the club until 2021,with negotiations ongoing.
The Goldstein decision also means the Cats will need to think about their ruck set-up for 2020 with Rhys Stanley and Ryan Abbott contracted while Zac Smith is unsigned.
Goldstein admitted it was"flattering"to have rival clubs keen to recruit him.
"I definitely wasn't complaining about it,that's for sure,"he smiled.
He also joked that playing arguably his career-best game against Port Adelaide late in the season was timed to strengthen his hand at the negotiating table.
Goldstein agreed that this season was his best since receiving All-Australian honours in 2015 and admitted that the club installing Rhyce Shaw as full-time senior coach in relatively quick fashion helped his decision to stay with North.
"Rhyce has shown a lot of confidence in me and that he did really want me as a player,"he said.
"The relationships he's built with the whole group and the whole staff has been unbelievable and I think that definitely plays a big part in it and I'm really excited about the young guys that are coming through and where this group can go."
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Goldstein wasn't putting any limits on what the Kangaroos could achieve before his career ended,either.
"The beauty of the AFL at the moment is you never quite know where any team's going to be year-in,year-out,"he said.
"It's so close,every team feels like they have a chance each year to make finals and do damage in finals.
"I don't think any[rival] team can guarantee you a premiership and I think I've got just as good a chance here as I do anywhere else."
Goldstein had earlier been courted by St Kilda with a significant offer but turned it down. The Cats had remained in the picture by offering him three years.
North had initially been reluctant to offer a veteran such an extension.
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Goldstein's manager Tom Petroro from TLA ramped up discussions with North Melbourne last week.
His signature will be a relief for the club and Shaw with Tom Campbell,who played well in the VFL this season,the club's only other recognised ruckman.
Meanwhile,North Melbourne's off-field changes continue with Carl Dilena stepping down as CEO on October 31,having been in the role since 2013 after joining the board in 2008.
Club chairman Ben Buckley said the Kangaroos'financial stability and strength was due to Dilena's management with the club making a profit in 10 of the past 11 seasons allowing them to eliminate debt,pay 100 per cent of the total player payments,increase football department spending and membership.
The club also secured their home base at Arden Street and introduced AFLW and VFL teams.