Hammers up stakes for Upson

Birmingham have rejected an improved offer of £6m (€9.1m) from West Ham for defender Matthew Upson.

Blues boss Steve Bruce is determined to keep hold of the services of the 27-year-old centre-half until at least the end of the season.

City had already turned down a £4m (€6.1m) bid from the Hammers last week.

Bruce has already voiced his fears about Upson’s possible departure sending “negative vibes” through the club if he was sold.

The Birmingham boss has made it clear it will take a “mega bucks” offer for him to allow Upson to leave before the summer.

Bruce does not believe the value of Upson, who has 18 months remaining on his contract, will fall substantially if he stays at St Andrews until May.

Bruce is under no pressure to bring in revenue after last summer selling Emile Heskey and Jermaine Pennant for a total of nearly £13m (€19.8m), even though he recently signed striker Rowan Vine from Luton for £3million. David Dunn has also joined Blackburn for an undisclosed fee.

He has confirmed his interest in Sheffield Wednesday defender Madjid Bougherra although there has been no formal bid for the Algerian international.

Bruce said: “I spoke to their manager a week or so ago about a couple of their players and Bougherra was mentioned but that’s as far as it has gone.”