Southend boss Phil Brown says the club have offered Millwall target Ryan Leonard a new deal.

Leonard, 25, was handed a contract by the Shrimpers at the end of last season to stop him leaving on a free transfer.

And since then, Southend have rejected bids from Championship duo Millwall and Sheffield United, who are looking to bolster their squads.

It has led Brown to offer star man Leonard new and improved terms to keep him at Roots Hall.

He told Echo News: “We have now put a new deal Lenny’s [Leonard’s] way.

“We’re waiting for a reply but he’s working hard in training and he was spot on in the game we had against Partick Thistle on Saturday.

“He hit the post and was also keen to help young Dru Yearwood, who we put in alongside him in midfield.”

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Southend have made some impressive summer signings with Stephen Hendrie and Michael Kightly arriving in Essex.

And keeping Leonard, the Shrimpers’ Player of the Year, could prove to be the best business yet.

Meanwhile, Millwall manager Neil Harris wants the experienced midfielder to join new recruits James Meredith, Conor McLaughlin, Tom Elliott, George Saville and Jed Wallace at the Den.

The Lions had a bid believed to be in the region of £300,000 rejected by Southend chiefs last month.