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Sevilla offer Jorge Sampaoli contract extension amid Barcelona talk

Sevilla president Pepe Castro has said coach Jorge Sampaoli has been offered a one-year contract extension amid reports of interest from Barcelona.

Sampaoli, whose current deal expires in June 2018, has had a hugely impressive first season at Sevilla and reports in Spain have linked him with the Barcelona coaching position should Luis Enrique not sign a new contract with the Catalan outfit.

Asked about Barcelona's reported interest in the former Chile boss, Castro told Cadena Ser radio: "I'm not worried about that. Sampaoli is a serious person, he is very happy here.

"The important thing is to extend that happiness. We are talking about the future with him and we have offered him a one-year contract extension.

"We hope that he continues with us, not just for one year or two but many more."

He added: "There is a clause that both sides can exercise to terminate his contract for €1.5 million, but he is talking about important aims at the club and we need to continue with the coach that gives us so much enthusiasm.

"He is happy and very grateful that we were the first European club to give him confidence.

"With both parties happy, it's easy to reach an agreement and we hope we can soon announce that he will remain with us for many years."

The Argentine was already a respected coach in South America before he replaced Unai Emery at Sevilla last summer.

He led Chile's national team into the round of 16 of the 2014 World Cup, where they lost on penalties to hosts Brazil, and the following year oversaw success at the Copa America.

Emery, who left for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, had steered Sevilla to three straight Europa League titles as well as a club record 76 points during the 2014-15 campaign.

Under Sampaoli, Sevilla last month set a club record by reaching 42 points in La Liga at the halfway point of the season.

"It has been a great choice," Castro said. "We are extremely happy with him and with our season. He is a coach that is very different to Emery and has brought new aims to the club.

"Emery won three consecutive Europa League titles, something no coach has ever achieved and that is there for history."

Sevilla are third in the standings, three points adrift of leaders Real Madrid, who have two games less.

They are also through to the Champions League round of 16 and host Leicester on Wednesday in the first leg.

"We want to progress to the next round in the Champions League," Castro said. "This is a very important tie for us.

"As for La Liga, the pressure is not on us to win the title but on the two teams that are ahead of us in the standings [Barcelona and Real Madrid] and that have five times the budget that we have.

"All we are trying to do is to get as many points as possible and finish as high as possible to get a direct Champions League qualification. That is our aim."

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