SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown is to step up his attempts to keep goalkeeper Daniel Bentley at the club.

Brown is not anticipating any bids for the highly-rated shot-stopper before the transfer window closes later today.

And the Blues boss will respond by offering Bentley a new deal for the first time in four months.

But it remains unclear whether or not the 22-year-old will agree to stay with the Shrimpers.

“We will definitely be going back to Dan with another contract offer,” confirmed Brown.

“It was something I spoke to my staff about over the weekend and I firmly believe his form will start to go north once the window shuts again.

“Where Dan is concerned we’ve had four or five clubs interested in him but no actual bids have been made other than from QPR at the start of the season which the chairman decided to turn down.

“But I’ve always promised to do all I can to keep our best players and that still remains the case.

“We’re having a good season, we’re well placed in the table and I’ll be doing all I can to keep Dan at the football club.”

Bentley has established himself as one of the brightest young prospects outside the Premier League and was voted the club’s player of the year last season.

The 22-year-old has also kept clean sheets in his last two outings.

But he is not surprised to still be with the Shrimpers.

“Goalkeepers don’t really tend to move on during the January transfer window,” said Bentley.

“You might get one or two move on but it’s quite rare because clubs already have their number one choice sorted out by this stage of the season.

“But I just focus on what happens on the pitch and let other people worry about everything else.

“I haven’t actually been offered a contract here for four or five months now so I’ve just been thinking about the games and making sure I’m playing as well as I can.”

Bentley’s current contract expires at the end of the season.

However, it still seems unlikely he will sign a new deal.

“I don’t think a contract would be right for me at this stage,” said Bentley.

“But I would never close the door on it.”