Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is reportedly in talks over a contract extension at Stamford Bridge.
The 48-year-old sought to avoid becoming the latest victim of the trigger-happy Blues board when Frank Lampard was given the boot in January 2021 and won the Champions League in his first half-season in charge.
Tuchel followed up that continental crown by also guiding Chelsea to UEFA Super Cup success a couple of months later before winning the Club World Cup earlier this year.
The former Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain head coach is yet to win a domestic honour with the Blues, though, having lost two FA Cup finals and the 2021-22 EFL Cup final already.
Chelsea were also forced to settle for a third-placed finish in the Premier League last term after early signs that a title challenge could have been on the cards, but the Blues are still putting their faith in Tuchel.
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The German's current contract at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of the 2023-24 season, but according to The Sun, Chelsea have now started negotiations over a new deal.
The report claims that new owner Todd Boehly wants to tie Tuchel down until the summer of 2026 after being left impressed with the 48-year-old's commitment to the club over the past several months.
Tuchel remained defiantly in his position amid the ownership saga surrounding Roman Abramovich, where sanctions on the Blues left them unable to conduct transfer business or negotiate new contracts.
Negotiations are supposedly at an embryonic stage right now, but the Chelsea board are optimistic that an agreement can be reached with Tuchel to keep him at the club for two more years.
The German initially signed a 17-month deal until the summer of 2022 after replacing Lampard, but his contract was extended until 2024 when he steered Chelsea to Champions League glory.
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Tuchel was named the World's Best Club Coach in 2021 for his efforts in Europe and has now posted a total of 60 wins, 19 draws and 15 defeats from his 94 games in charge so far.
Chelsea have opened their 2022-23 Premier League campaign with four points from six games against Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, the latter of which saw Spurs rescue a last-gasp point in a fiery 2-2 draw.
Tuchel and his opposite number Antonio Conte were involved in more than one altercation at Stamford Bridge, which led to both men being sent off by Anthony Taylor after the final whistle.
The pair have now been charged by the FA for improper conduct, and Tuchel is therefore facing the prospect of a touchline ban for Sunday's trip to Leeds United.
It also remains to be seen if the FA will take any action over Tuchel's comments towards referee Taylor after the German was left furious with two decisions that did not go his side's way before Tottenham's goals.
A perceived foul on Kai Havertz in the build-up to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's equaliser was not flagged, while Cristian Romero escaped punishment after appearing to drag Marc Cucurella down by his hair before the corner which led to Harry Kane's late leveller.
Ben Knapton
