Santos seeking long-term deal with coach Sampaoli

RIO DE JANEIRO - Santos head coach Jorge Sampaoli will be offered a contract extension in the coming weeks after exceeding expectations in his first season at the Brazilian club, president Jose Peres said on Monday.

Sampaoli's current deal expires in December 2020 but Peres wants the former Chile and Argentina boss to continue until 2023.

"We were going to discuss his future at the end of the year but I want to bring that forward to have peace of mind," Peres told Brazilian radio station Kiss FM.

"The first half of 2019 was difficult and we've had to make a lot of new signings. We still don't have a perfect squad but we're going in the right direction. This year was for Sampaoli to introduce a new concept, a new way of playing."

Sampaoli joined Santos in January, six months after he was sacked as Argentina boss following the team's last-16 elimination from the World Cup in Russia.

The eight-time Brazilian Serie A champions currently lead the top flight standings with 32 points from 15 matches, two points clear of second-placed Flamengo.