According to The London Evening Standard Spurs will reject any approaches for manager Mauricio Pochettino this summer after he emerged as a surprise contender for the Chelsea job.
Roman Abramovich and Blues director Marina Granovskaia, the key decision makers at Stamford Bridge, are big admirers of Pochettino’s work in guiding Spurs to three consecutive top-three finishes, and he has been discussed as a potential replacement for Antonio Conte.
The Italian coach is almost certain to leave the club after Saturday’s FA Cup Final against Manchester United, however the article adds that Spurs would not entertain an approach for Pochettino from any club and they would like him to extend his contract, which has three years remaining, with the club insisting the only way he would go is if he chose to walk away.
The article goes on to say that there is a longstanding animosity at boardroom level between the two clubs and, although it has somewhat cooled in the past few years, they remain particularly reluctant to do business, which would further hamper Chelsea’s chances of poaching Pochettino.
The Argentine coach cast his own future into doubt after the final game of the season against Leicester on Sunday when, not for the first time, he refused to confirm if he would be at Spurs next season, insisting his future is out of his hands.
The 46-year-old seemingly called on chairman Daniel Levy to “change the idea” at Spurs and “be brave and take risks” to win major honours and the the article adds that the timing of the link to Stamford Bridge will strengthen Pochettino’s position ahead of his meeting with Levy this week, when he will call for the chairman to release the financial handbrake by guaranteeing him significant transfer funds and a round of improved contracts for leading players.
However the article concludes that If Levy is reluctant to meet Pochettino’s demands,a scenario acknowledged by the manager on Sunday , it could lead to a fraught summer at the club.
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