VfB Stuttgart extended the contract of coach Sebastian Hoeneß until 2027 on Friday amid speculation Bayern Munich might consider him as a replacement for Thomas Tuchel.
Stuttgart have been the surprise packages of the Bundesliga season and sit in third place having recently had years of relegation fights.
His deal was meant to run until 2025 but a sudden extension means Bayern would have to pay more compensation if they decide to recruit their former reserve team coach, who won the third tier with Bayern reserves in 2020.
He is also the son of ex-Bayern player Dieter as well as the nephew of Bayern honorary president Uli.
In between his success at Bayern reserves and Stuttgart, the 41-year-old had a mixed spell in charge of Hoffenheim.
"Together, we have managed to put VfB on the right track. Our aim must be to follow this path in the long term in order to establish VfB in the top half of the table once again," Hoeneß, whose assistant coach David Krecidlo has also agreed a two-year extension, said in a club statement.
Hoeneß, who took over in April 2023 and first helped the club avoid the drop, increased Stuttgart's cushion to fifth spot to 10 points when they won 2-0 at home to Union Berlin on Friday. A Champions League spot now looks highly likely.
Sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth said: "I can say it without equivocation: the early extension of Sebastian Hoeneß' contract is more important for our further sporting development than any other personnel matter at the club at the moment."
The club had already managed to extend the contracts of coveted players such as Chris Führich and Waldemar Anton.
Bayern's combative coach Tuchel is leaving at the end of the season with Bayer Leverkusen set to end the Bavarians' run of 11 straight Bundesliga titles.
Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso is the bookmakers' favourite to replace Tuchel but he may also be courted by fellow ex-club Liverpool, possibly opening the door for Hoeneß.
