Oliver Norwood says he wants to spend the rest of his career at Sheffield United.
Manager Chris Wilder recently revealed that Norwood was among the next group of players set to be offered a new contract at the club.
As things stand, new deals for John Egan, John Fleck, John Lundstram and Enda Stevens are the priority. Yet after that, discussions will begin with Chris Basham and Norwood.
The midfielder signed a two-and-a-half year deal at Bramall Lane when he made his initial loan move from Brighton and Hove Albion permanent in January 2019.
Norwood will therefore enter the final year of his current contract this summer, but has no intention of going anywhere.
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“It’s nice that the football club want me to stay here,” the 28-year-old told BBC Radio Sheffield. “They know how I feel. I’ve spoken to the manager, I’ve spoken to the powers that be and we’ll get there. Simple as that.
“Why would I want to go anywhere else? To be playing in the Premier League and the way we’re playing and the way we’re going about it, the group of players we have, the group of staff we have, the people that run the football club. It’s a special place to be.
“I want to be here for arguably the rest of my career the way things are going. I can’t see myself leaving, to be honest, and I don’t see any reason why I’d want to.”
Why Norwood is so important to Sheffield United
(Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Norwood is among a group of five players who has started every Premier League match for the Blades this season. Having been promoted from the Championship with Brighton and Fulham in the previous two years before joining United, Wilder has finally given him his chance in the top flight.
And Norwood has grabbed it with both hands, with the former Northern Ireland international arguably the most important member of the midfield three.
Fleck is the biggest attacking threat from the middle, scoring five goals in 2019/20. Lundstram is close behind on four. Yet Luke Freeman and more recently, Sander Berge, have deputised admirably when called upon.
But there is no obvious replacement in the squad for Norwood. He is the playmaker, whose range of passing from deep is unrivalled among his teammates.
Luckily, the Blades seemingly won’t be losing that threat any time soon.
