Timm Klose admits without Premier League football he would have left Norwich City.

The hugely popular centre back signed a new Carrow Road deal earlier this summer, after being touted with moves to Turkey, Scotland and an emotional return to boyhood club FC Basel.

The Swiss international revealed he was tempted to head home, but the lure of the top flight proved irresistible.

"I quickly realised that Norwich wants to keep me and really feel at home in the city. I'm really happy there," he said. "It gives me tremendous strength that I can call Norwich my home, next to Basel.

"Of course there were offers. But for me it was clear that I would like to stay.

"I know (FCB) sports manager Marco Streller well and have always been in contact, mostly as friends, more recently as a sports director and player. That's funny, but we can separate it. But with the rise of Norwich I knew that I wanted to play Premier League again. Without that, yes, a return (to FCB) would have become relatively concrete.

"I have not won anything here yet and I want to give something back to the club."

Klose holds a special place in the affections of Norwich fans for his dramatic stoppage-time equaliser in the 2018 home derby against Ipswich and, speaking to Swiss daily newspaper Aargauer Zeitung, joked the Canaries remain the dominant power.

"Norwich is the club in eastern England. We have a big fan base. Besides us, there is Ipswich, but they are not so cool and have no fans," he said.

"That's what I'm saying now, because it's the derby. But Norwich is already the biggest club in the east.

"We do not have as much money as the Londoners or Manchester clubs, but we are family.

"Almost like the FCB. You need that if you do not have a big backer. As a small club, you cannot hire players to save your season. You have to work as a team."

Klose insists a special bond forged by Daniel Farke sparked a surprise top-flight return.

"We were able to keep the team together and improved together. If you have a good team spirit and everyone works for each other, you will be successful in the long term," he said. "Liverpool has shown that too.

"Continuity brings the most success, but in football it is difficult to get these days."