Alex McLeish is determined to keep Wigan target Sebastian Larsson at Birmingham City and is ready to offer the midfielder a five-year contract.Larsson has been voted the club's Player of the Season, but Blues' relegation from the Premier League has prompted doubts to be raised about his future at St Andrews.

Former Birmingham manager and Wigan chief Steve Bruce, who originally brought Larsson to the club from Arsenal, has been linked with a bid to take the Sweden international to The JJB.

But current Blues boss McLeish is hoping the offer of a lucrative new contract will persuade Larsson to stick around and help the club push for an immediate return to the top flight.

"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."

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