Swansea City’s FA Cup hero Daniel James insists he wants to sign a new contract with the club.
The Wales winger – who would have been sold to Leeds United on deadline day for £7.5m if the buyers had offered more money up front – has started talks on a new contract at the Liberty Stadium.
James made that Leeds valuation look inadequate with a stunning display in the Swans’ 4-1 victory over Brentford that included a brilliant individual goal.
He confirmed afterwards he has begun negotiations over a new contract and is keen to re-sign.
“At the start, it was difficult (after the Leeds move broke down on deadline day), but I love playing for this team and for these fans and so I’ve concentrated on that,” said the 21-year-old.
“I’ve got 18 months left on my contract so I’m just concentrating on playing. There are new contract talks under way and I’m enjoying my football here.”
Asked whether he was keen to re-sign, James added: “Yes. I love every second of it here.
“Playing for this club has been amazing and the way the gaffer has brought me through has been fantastic.”
Even if James does sign a new contract, it is unlikely to stop interest in him from other clubs at the end of this season.
It might strengthen Swansea’s negotiating position if he was on longer and better terms, but the club’s American owners are unlikely to resist any substantial offers as they continue their policy of selling assets to replace lost income from the Premier League.
But whereas Leeds were the biggest club in for James in January, that situation is likely to be very different in the summer and manager Graham Potter has already stated that if and when James does leave he should only move to a Premier League club.
Even if they gain promotion, Leeds may have already missed the boat.
James and his Swansea teammates will now be hoping for a home draw in Monday evening’s FA Cup quarter-final draw.
James added: “We will take anyone so long as it’s a home tie. Any team – whether it’s one of the big boys or not – we’ve got to feel we’re ready to beat anyone.
“But we have to concentrate on the league until that comes along.”
James admitted the Swans’ slow start against Brentford followed a similar pattern to other matches this season.
“We came in very frustrated at half-time because they had stopped us playing.
“But we did what we’ve done it all season – come out for the second half and showed people what we’re really about. We were brave on the ball, which is what the gaffer had said to us at half-time.
“I think it shows the character in this team to recover like that. Getting the two early goals really helped us. The red card, obviously helped, but we kept going and deserved to get four goals by the end.”
As for his extraordinary 80-yard run for his solo goal to put his side 2-1 ahead, James added: “I don’t think there have been many times this season where I’ve had that much space to run into.
“But as soon as I blocked it, I saw the opportunity and after the run it was about being composed at the end.
“It’s fair to say I might not have finished like that earlier in the season, but I’ve been working on my composure a lot on the training ground.
“It’s about getting used to things in this league and I’ve done that. The gaffer has really helped me.
“The sprinting comes naturally to me. All the boys laugh about it here, asking why I’m always sprinting. But that’s just my game.
“We’ve had three games in a week and so it’s been about doing the work in the gym and on the training field. Maybe at the start of the season, I wouldn’t have been able to do that.
“Earlier in the season, I got an injury against Derby but I’ve come a long way since then and now I’m able to play three matches in a week.”