Swansea defender Neil Taylor has told ESPN FC he was flattered by interest from other clubs, but that it was always his intention to stay at the Liberty Stadium after signing a new deal this week.
Taylor ended speculation over his future by penning a new four-year contract to keep him in South Wales until 2019, despite being a reported target for the likes of Aston Villa, West Brom and Crystal Palace this summer.
The 26-year-old has established himself as a key member of the Swansea side since joining from Wrexham in 2010 and, having battled back from a serious ankle injury in 2013, the defender feels his best years are ahead of him in a Swansea shirt.
"Of course it is flattering to be linked with other clubs as it is always a good measure of how well you are doing if other clubs are showing interest in you, but ultimately my intention was always to stay at Swansea," Taylor told ESPN FC.
"I am happy at the club and I was happy with my form this season so to get the contract sorted out means I can put my future to bed and focus on playing. As soon as the club indicated they wanted to offer me a new deal it was something I wanted to do and for me and the club to get it done so early in the summer is good for everyone concerned."
Taylor helped Swansea finish in eighth place in the Premier League with a record points total of 56 and the left-back admits it will be difficult to top that next season, but hopes the club will back manager Garry Monk to help them progress.
"We had a great season, finishing with a record number of points in the Premier League and we just missed out on qualifying for Europe," added Taylor. "It will be difficult to go to that next level as the clubs above us will all spend money and get stronger so hopefully the club will back the manager in the transfer market so he can try and improve the squad.
"We have consolidated as a Premier League club since coming into the league so hopefully we can enjoy a good cup run next season and get back into Europe. We had a taste of it before when we won the League Cup in 2013 and then played in the Europa League, so we would like to try and experience that again and that would show the club is continuing to progress."
Taylor also believes Monk is the right man to take the club forward and feels the club deserve great credit for giving his former teammate the opportunity to take up the managerial reins following the departure of Michael Laudrup.
"The manager has done really well since he took over and I think you can see the improvements we have made under him," Taylor said. "He has won a lot of plaudits for what he has done and he deserves it as he is great on the training pitch and also a fantastic man-manager.
"I also feel the club deserve a lot of credit for appointing the gaffer as it was a step into the unknown for both him and the club, but it has really paid off. They got it right in giving him the job and we have continued to grow as a club under his management."