CHELSEA have opened talks with Thomas Tuchel about doubling the length of his contract as boss.
The coach who won them a second Champions League title has two years left on his existing deal.
But negotiations are already underway into adding another two seasons as a reward for his success and commitment.
The outspoken German stood by Chelsea even when the club’s existence was in doubt earlier this year.
Tuchel was adamant he would not leave when former owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, triggering an emergency takeover.
New owners have since come in led by American tycoon Todd Boehly and the pair are forging a strong working relationship.
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Tuchel has spent more than £100million on new signings Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella and he does not want to stop there.
Barcelona pair Frenkie de Jong and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Leicester’s Wesley Fofana and Everton star Anthony Gordon are being targeted as Tuchel bids to build a new era of glory at Stamford Bridge.
Tuchel signed a 17-month deal initially with Chelsea when he took over from sacked Frank Lampard in late January 2021.
A three year extension kicked in after he led them to a second European crown that summer with victory over Manchester City in Paris for which he was named UEFA coach of the year.
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Victory in the European Super Cup was followed by winning the Club World Cup in February – the only major trophy that had eluded Chelsea until then.
Just over a year down the line, the new consortium in charge has been hugely impressed with Tuchel’s qualities and leadership and want to tie his future down even more to the club.
Ambitious Chelsea are planning for the long term in their bid to upset Manchester City and Liverpool’s domination of the Premier League.
Tuchel lost both domestic cup finals to Liverpool last season but is still seen as the man to lead Chelsea into a new era of consistent success at home and abroad.
Talks over a new deal are at an early stage.
But the board are hopeful they can convince Tuchel to sign a contract that will keep him as head coach until 2026 at a club where only two managers have lasted more than two years since Jose Mourinho’s first spell in charge in 2004.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
