Mauricio Pochettino set to become new manager of Tottenham

Mauricio Pochettino looks set to become the new manager of Tottenham with his appointment expected within the next 48 hours.

Reports on Tuesday morning suggest that the 42-year-old has been offered a three-year deal to take over at White Hart Lane.

Southampton are desperate to hold on to their coach and are understood to have offered him a new and improved contract in a bid to keep him at St Mary’s.

However, it looks increasingly likely that he will succeed Tim Sherwood as manager of Tottenham with chairman Daniel Levy hoping to finalise the deal as soon as possible.

Sherwood endured months of speculation regarding his future before his departure was finally confirmed on May 13.

Louis Van Gaal was one of the first names linked with the position but he was ruled out once David Moyes was sacked by Manchester United, while Ajax manager Frank De Boer claimed he had been approached by Spurs, something the London club denied.

Pochettino fielded a number of questions about the Spurs job in the latter stages of the season, but he refused to be drawn on the speculation.

However, he looks set to swap St Mary’s for White Hart Lane, which would be a huge blow to the Saints with a number of the club’s top stars expected to follow him out the door.