Bruce would only accept "crazy" money for Upson
Bruce does not want to sell his prize asset
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Thursday, 28, Dec 2006 08:41
Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce says it would take "an absolutely crazy" offer for him to consider selling prize defender Matthew Upson during the January transfer window.
The Blues sit comfortably at the top of the Championship with an eight point lead over their nearest rivals and Bruce wants to keep his former England centre-half to maintain their push for promotion.
Upson has been targeted by many Premiership sides looking to reinforce their defence and the latest to be linked with the Blues man are Chelsea who need cover for the injured John Terry.
But Bruce remains unmoved, he said: "He's been linked with every club, but not one manager has rung me up. Sometimes it doesn't happen like that in football any more.
"Of course people are going to court him because he's got 18 months to go [on his contract], but there's three or four months until the summer."
Upson had missed the start of the season with an Achilles injury he picked in April and it seems the Premiership vultures are now circling.
However Bruce is defiant that within six months City will be able to provide Upson with top flight football and wants to hold on to his man.
"I don't want him to go anywhere and it is going to take an absolutely crazy deal for me to even consider letting our best player go at the moment," he concluded.
Birmingham have won all five of their games in December and will hope to maintain that run against Luton tomorrow night.