Blues duo set for new deals

But McLeish wants focus on fight for survival

Last updated: 6th February 2008

birmingham mehdi nafti

Nafti: To hold talks soon

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Alex McLeish expects Birmingham City to hold contract talks with Mehdi Nafti and Maik Taylor in the coming weeks.

Both players' current deals expire in the summer and Blues boss McLeish is keen for the focus not to shift away from the fight for Premier League survival.

However, he confirmed that discussions are likely to start in the near future, particularly when Tunisian midfielder Nafti returns from Africa Cup of Nations duty.

"That is something that has to be organised once he gets back. I'm sure his agent will lock horns with Karren Brady and the club and see where we take it," McLeish told the club's official website.

Prestige

"Let's try and get some points on the board first and get to a position where we can sit down and talk again.

"I'd rather people focused on the prestige of being in the Premier League rather than money and personal matters.

"But the fact is that we agreed that we'd talk to Mehdi when he came back so that has got to be done.

"And it's the same with Maik Taylor's contract."

Naivety

Meanwhile, McLeish has again expressed his disappointment at failing to secure a work permit for Georgian midfielder Levan Tskitishvili before last week's transfer deadline.

He added: "It was disappointing not to be granted a work permit for a player that is at the peak of his career, it was a bit of naivety on the part of the people who sit on the tribunal panel.

"They judged the case on the Fifa standings and prejudiced that against the quality of the player.

"He would have enhanced our team. We are looking to stay in the Premier League and we need players of quality to help us."