Cameron Jerome has urged Sebastian Larsson to sign a new deal

Jul 18 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

There were suggestions that Newcastle United wanted Larsson for £4 million a year ago.

Blues, though, insisted publicly neither he nor striker James McFadden would be sold following relegation – and stayed true to their word.

Larsson committed himself wholeheartedly to Blues’ cause during the Championship run-in last season, ignoring the pain of a nagging shoulder injury in the final few weeks.

And he celebrated Blues’ return to the Premier League at Reading with as much, if not more, gusto than anyone in the squad.

The mood around Blues is naturally less gloomy after May’s happy ending and the subsequent strengthening of the squad.

That could tip Larsson into accepting a new deal. His present contract has a season to run, with a 12-month option after that.

“The club definitely seems to be going in the right direction,” said Jerome.

“They seem to be investing in some younger lads, and Seb falls into that category too.

“People shouldn’t expect him to sign any deal for the sake of it.

‘‘He’s got to be happy if he’s going to commit for a number of years, he’s got to be certain that this is the place he wants to be and I’m sure it is and that in time he will sign.

“Seb is the sort who just gets on with his football and he won’t let it affect him. He works hard in training and in games, he really does run himself into the ground.

“It’s the same situation as with me. I just let things take care of themselves and I’m sure in due course he will sign.”

Jerome said he was delighted with his new contract, and he never entertained the thought of plying his trade elsewhere.

“I always wanted to stay here,” the striker insisted.

“There was no rush about it, we took our time to talk and we came to a conclusion that both parties were happy with.

“We just had to put it to bed. There was never really any doubt that I would want out or anything like that.

“If the worst case scenario happened, that we didn’t agreed terms, I was still under contract and I would still have played giving my best, like I always do.”