Bruce faces fight to keep Savage

Steve Bruce is facing his toughest challenge as Birmingham City manager after telling Robbie Savage he does not want him to leave.

The Wales midfielder was the subject of a £2million bid from Everton over the weekend and is undecided whether he wants to move after one season at St Andrew's.

Bruce held talks with Savage, 28, after City's 4-0 win against the Malaysian national side in Kuala Lumpar.

He stressed that Savage has three years left on his contract and wants that commitment to be honoured. Savage, signed from Leicester for £1.2m, has remained silent on the issue, perhaps seeing whether he can work the situation to his best advantage.

He went on record last season as saying he wanted to see out his career at St Andrew's, but club chairman David Gold refused to be drawn on extending his contract. Savage may now use Everton's interest to try to force an extra year out of his paymasters.

Bruce said: 'I've spoken to David Moyes the Everton manager about several things recently, but Robbie wasn't one of them.' However, sources close to Birmingham have confirmed the offer. Everton have seen a £4m bid for Fulham's Sean Davis fail and late interest in Sunderland's Gavin McCann was not enough to prevent him joining Aston Villa.

Now the Goodison Park club have turned to Savage and hope the fact they are enjoying better days may tempt him.