LONDON (AFP) - Australia defender Lucas Neill has started talks with West Ham over a new contract.

Neill, who signed from Blackburn in January 2007, was targeted by Turkish club Galatasaray recently and the West Ham captain confirmed he had been approached by other teams.

But Hammers boss Alan Curbishley is keen to keep Neill and negotiations to give the Socceroos star an improved contract are underway.

"Officially I'm on my last year of my contract. I've had preliminary talks and there's been interest from elsewhere," Neill told the Daily Star.

"But I'm captain of West Ham and very proud of that and I don't see it being any different this season."