Alex McLeish has been one of the busiest managers in the transfer market this summer – bringing in no fewer than nine signings for Birmingham's return to the Premier League.New faces like Christian Benitez, Barry Ferguson and Roger Johnson are crucial to the club's chances of remaining in the top flight this season.
Despite all the fresh blood, Birmingham supporters will be delighted by the fact that one of their more seasoned campaigners and a player with genuine Premier League qualities looks like he is staying at the club.
Swedish midfielder Sebastian Larsson has confirmed he is in talks with Birmingham owners David Sullivan and David Gold over a new contract.
Speculation has been rife that Larsson would not commit his long-term future to the club he joined for £750,000 from Arsenal, but he has told the Swedish media that he is in negotiations for a new long-term deal.
"Nothing is done yet," Larsson told Fotbollskanalen. "I was offered a contract this spring, but the timing and the circumstances were not the best.
"We have now started discussions. So we will see where we end up. There is no stress from any side, We want the same thing in the end."
Larsson will be one of the few faces remaining from Birmingham's last ill-fated Premier League campaign and his contribution will be crucial to their chances of survival this season.
One person who won't be part of Birmingham's bid to stay in the top flight this season is Arsenal defender Armand Traore as McLeish has been forced to abandon his attempts to push through a loan signing.
The Birmingham Mail claims that McLeish will turn his attentions to other defenders because he cannot afford to until the end of the transfer window, when Wenger will make a decision on the player's situation.
"I have had a response from Arsene about Traore and it is not a positive one because he is going to keep him in the meantime," said McLeish.
