Blues keen to keep Purse

Purse has been tracked by several Premiership clubs

Premiership newcomers Birmingham are confident of talking central defender Darren Purse into signing a new contract.

Purse has so far twice turned down a five-year offer from the St Andrews club.

But chairman David Gold is confident he can persuade the player to stay.

Gold believed Purse - who was stripped of the captaincy when he refused to negotiate with manager Steve Bruce during last season - would now sign because Birmingham had earned promotion to the Premiership.

"We are in negotiations with Darren who obviously wants to play in the Premiership," said Gold.

"When we were talking to him before there was no guarantee we would be in the Premiership.

"I would hope in the next few days, or next few weeks at worst, a deal will be done."

Purse has attracted interest from Arsenal, but the £5m-rated centre-back, who has one year left on his current contract, has most recently been tracked by Charlton and Everton.