Norwich City goalkeeper Tim Krul has insisted he has no interest in becoming a back-up goalkeeper for a Premier League club.

Krul was outstanding for the Canaries in the top-flight of English football last season, and remained at Carrow Road throughout the summer transfer window despite their relegation this summer.

Even so, it would be little surprise to see interest from the Premier League emerge for Krul, although it seems that is not something he would be interested in, if there were no guarantees of regular playing time.

Speaking about the possibility of a move to a top-flight club, Krul was quoted by Norwich City outlet The Pink Un as saying: “I don’t want to be the second goalkeeper on the bench at a Premier League club. At my age, playing is the most important thing and now I can show myself every three, four days."

Krul also appears to feel that his position with a club such as Norwich is benefitting his international chances with the Netherlands, for whom he made his first competitive appearance in five years on Sunday, as he went on to add: “What also plays a role is the way we want to play at Norwich City is similar to the Oranje, we also build from behind.

"If I did choose a Premier League club that ended up in the relegation zone and only playing a long ball game then I will be less attractive to Oranje. I hope I get the chance now."

The 32-year-old has previously found himself playing the role of a back up Premier League goalkeeper, failing to make a single league appearances for Brighton during the 2017/18 campaign immediately before his move to Norwich.

Reflecting on that experience, Krul explained: “At Brighton, where I went a year later (after leaving Newcastle), I sat on the bench every week, but by training hard every day I re-discovered my faith and love for football there.

“There I said to myself, ‘I am too young to spend years on the couch’. With that belief I decided to go to the Championship and Norwich.” Krul has made 95 appearances for Norwich since joining the club, and has a year-and-a-half remaining on his contract, securing his future at Carrow Road until the summer of 2022.

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The Verdict
This must be music to the ears of those associated with Norwich City.
Krul has been a key player for the club since joining, so you are unlikely to find anyone of a Norwich persuasion who would want to see him leave anytime soon.
As a result, the fact that Krul himself appears to have made it clear here that he has no intention of leaving either, ought to be a big relief for those Norwich supporters.
Indeed, when you consider the more lucrative offers that might have been available to Krul in the Premier League, you have to admire him for his stance here, given it shows just how much he is focused on playing regular first-team football, as opposed to anything else.