SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown expects conversations surrounding Ryan Leonard’s future to continue throughout January.

Sheffield United have had another offer, believed to be in the region of £700,000, rejected for the Shrimpers midfielder.

But Brown does not expect that to be the end of the matter.

“There’s a renewed bid on the table for Lenny which has been turned down but the conversations are open and probably will be for all of January,” said Brown.

“I’ll be doing all I can to keep him because he’s a massive asset for us and he’s shown that in this game again.

“If the finances are right then there’s every possibility but at the moment Lenny is still a Southend United player and we want that to be the case for at least the next six months.”

Leonard – whose Blues contract expires at the end of the season – scored in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat against Shrewsbury Town and has now made 264 appearances for the club.