Monday, 6th January, 2014
Bayer Leverkusen are eager to give coach Sami Hyypia a contract renewal with the former Liverpool player very much open to the idea.
Hyypia is contracted at Leverkusen until 2015, having been promoted to the full-time role last summer.
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He has led Leverkusen to second in the Bundesliga so far and is poised to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League knockout round.
Hyypia's desire to one day manage his former club Liverpool came to light amid his internship under England boss Roy Hodgson during the international break in October.
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And Leverkusen are looking to stave off that dream for a few more seasons, with director of sport Rudi Voller telling Bild: "We are very pleased with Hyypia and his coaching team and we'll talk soon [about renewals]."
Hyypia himself is concentrating on catching Bayern Munich at the top, but is aware of how much Leverkusen want him to stay on.
"If the club and Rudi want to talk to me, I'm open", Hyypia explained. "For me the important thing is to concentrate on my job.
"I have learned that it is not good for a coach when he focuses on something other than his work.
"I know that the club have taken a risk with my appointment as manager so I am pleased that it is going well."
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