Paul Clement expects Swansea to open talks with Claude Makelele over new deal
Thursday 2 March 2017 17:09, UK
Paul Clement believes talks to extend Claude Makelele's contract at Swansea beyond the end of the season will happen soon.
Makelele was appointed as an assistant coach shortly after Clement's appointment in January, with the pair having worked together during their time at Chelsea, where Makelele was a player from 2003 to 2008.
Clement is yet to put a timeframe on when discussions over a new deal will happen for Makelele, but stressed the impact the former Real Madrid and France player has had at the club.
"We have not had discussions about Claude staying, but I don't think they will be too far away," Clement said.
"Claude is very focused on his job and helping me and the players to be successful.
"He's enjoying it here, he comes in every day with a lot of energy, a positive attitude and a smile on his face.
"Those are the kind of characters and personalities we need around us at the moment."
Bottom of the league with 12 points when Clement was appointed at the start of this year - with fixtures against Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea among his first seven games - Clement has doubled Swansea's tally in that time to move them out of the relegation zone.
With relegation rivals Hull, Bournemouth and Middlesbrough to come after Burnley's visit to the Liberty Stadium on Saturday, Swansea hope to capitalise on a kinder run of matches in the next few weeks.
"We are all very aware of the run we have coming now with the three games in March and Middlesbrough at the start of April," head coach Clement said.
"We have come off the back end of a difficult run of games and picked up a good amount of points against teams in and around us.
"That is what we are going to have to do on Saturday. We're very aware that this a crucial period for us, this run of four games, but we are really only focusing on getting a result against Burnley."
