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‘We want to keep that continuity’ – Vrancic could be next in line for new City contract
Mario Vrancic, right, could follow Tim Krul's lead in signing a new contract at Norwich City Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Mario Vrancic could be the next Norwich City player to sign a new contract, as sporting director Stuart Webber tries to maintain the Canaries’ title-winning spirit.
Tim Krul this week joined Timm Klose and Marco Stiepermann in signing new deals since promotion was sealed, with all committing until 2022 ahead of the club's return to the Premier League.
Cultured midfielder Vrancic, who turned 30 last month, played a pivotal role in Daniel Farke's team's successful title chase with 10 goals and seven assists - but like Krul had been, his contract is due to expire next summer.
"We had good talks with both before they went," Webber said ahead of Krul's deal being announced. "What we try to do here, myself, Daniel, Delia, Michael and the board, is create an environment where people talk more.
"Sometimes everything is through an agent and all the rest of it, but it's more like, I can speak to Tim Krul or Mario or whoever and say 'let's talk, where are we all at, how are we going to develop the club further?'.
"And what's been so special about this group with what's been shown on the pitch and what Daniel has created with them is an unbelievable togetherness and wanting the best for the club.
"So when you then get to contract talks it actually becomes quite easy because there is a real level of trust, from the club and ultimately myself, but also the player knows that there's that trust and there's not that sort of game playing - because I'm not sat up at the stadium and never see them, seen as a bad guy in a suit.
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"It's a bit more like, we're in this together and we can have hard and honest conversations."
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Keeping much of the promotion winning squad together is part of the summer strategy for Webber, having seen Fulham spend over £100million in an attempt to upgrade their squad only to slump to immediate relegation back to the Championship.
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He continued: "We've tied Daniel down for another three years, which is brilliant, all our young players are under long contracts, which is great and we want to keep that continuity because we think that can be a real strength for us.
"Not that massive upheaval of staff or players or whatever but let's keep building on that and look after the ones who have done so well on that for us."
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