Chelsea will come under increasing pressure to hand Thomas Tuchel an extended contract if he takes a major step towards securing a top-four finish with victory against West Ham tomorrow.
The German was only handed an 18-month deal when taking over from Frank Lampard in January, but a long-term contract could come as soon as this summer after his outstanding start at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea booked a place in the FA Cup Final after beating Manchester City last weekend and are already in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Finishing in the top four remains a final hurdle for Tuchel, but he has already seen his stock rise considerably in three months at the club.
He is due to sit down with Chelsea chief Marina Granovskaia and Petr Cech to finalise transfer plans this summer, but his own future will also need to be addressed. Chelsea can move three points clear of fifth-placed West Ham with victory at the London Stadium in tomorrow's tea-time kick-off.
Addressing his contract situation last week, Tuchel said: "If I deserve to stay, I am happy to stay and I will try to stay as long as possible. I feel like a part of the Chelsea family. If I deserve to stay longer, I will stay longer, no matter what [my contract] says."
If Tuchel can ensure a top-four spot, it will considerably strengthen his hand during negotiations and possibly give him more input on recruitment, with Erling Haaland and Sergio Aguero leading targets.
Chelsea have been impressed with the manner in which Tuchel has transformed their fortunes so quickly and established them as, arguably, the greatest threat to City's bid for dominance in the near future.
Tuchel's team are a work in progress, but he has already beaten Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp, Diego Simeone and Carlo Ancelotti in head-to heads since he arrived.
Next up is David Moyes and upwardly-mobile West Ham. Victory would further cement Tuchel's position, but few are doubting he is the right man to lead Chelsea forward in the long term.
