Blues in bid to keep star man

Wigan target Seb Larsson is set to be offered a five-year contract by Birmingham as they bid to keep him at St Andrew's.

Latics boss Steve Bruce signed Larsson from Arsenal last summer and has been linked with a bid to take him to The JJB Stadium, following Birmingham's relegation.

But current Blues boss Alex McLeish is hoping the offer of a lucrative new contract will keep the Swede happy as he plans Birmingham's bid to bounce back.

"I will be determined to keep the players I want to keep here and Larsson is integral to my plans," McLeish told the Birmingham Mail.

"It's right he should be rewarded for a great season. I think we all saw how he came on as a player, and how important he was to the team.

"He's not somebody I would like to see leaving here certainly.

"I would like to get a chance to sit down with some of the individuals, but many of them are now preparing for internationals.

"Larsson's going to be a part of the Sweden squad at Euro 2008 and deservedly so.

"I believe he has seen the passion and the enthusiasm of myself and my backroom team in our quest to take this club forward."