Wigan defender Emmerson Boyce claims he is close to agreeing a contract extension with the Premier League club.The 28-yer-old has been negotiating new terms with the Latics over the summer and hopes to put pen-to-paper once the club return from their Austrian training camp.

Boyce still has two years left to run on the deal he signed following his arrival from Crystal Palace in August 2006, but is set to be rewarded for a number of assured displays.

His partner in the centre of the Latics' defence, Paul Scharner, is also holding talks regarding his future and the club remain confident that the Austrian will agree to prolong his stay.

"Hopefully we can get everything sorted out sooner rather than later," Boyce told the Evening News.

"We are close. Maybe we can get it done when we come back from Austria, certainly before the season starts.

"I have two years left on this contract but it's nice to start negotiating early so that I know where my future is.

"It has been a two-way thing - the club approached me about a new contract as a reward for the way I have been performing.

"And I was only too happy to negotiate an improved deal because I want to help this club move forward.

"We finished last season strongly and the aim this time has to be to push further up the table and finish as high as we can.

"Wigan finished 10th in their first season in the Premier League but we struggled to match that in the following two seasons.

"With Steve Bruce here from the word go this time, I really think we have a chance of going higher."

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