Nafti talks on hold

Birmingham midfielder Mehdi Nafti is to put talks over his future on ice until the end of the season.

The Tunisian international’s current contract expires in the summer although it is understood a 12-month option could be taken up.

Blues boss Alex McLeish has expressed a desire for Nafti to remain with the midlands club who he joined from Racing Santander three years ago.

But Nafti, who helped his country reach the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup, is keen to help City win their battle to remain in the Barclays Premier League before any negotiations take place.

Nafti said: “I said a few weeks ago that I don’t want to talk about my future until the end of the season and just concentrate on football and nothing has changed.

“I don’t think about my future at the moment. I think about football, enjoying every minute I am on the pitch, and trying to keep Birmingham in the Premier League.

“My future we will see about at the end of the season. It is not in my mind now and I am happy at the moment.”

Veteran goalkeeper Maik Taylor is the other Birmingham player out of contract at the end of the season.

The Northern Ireland number one, aged 36, has intimated he would like to stay at City who he joined four years ago from Fulham after an initial loan spell.