Mauricio Pochettino agrees new contract: Tottenham manager reveals he has verbally agreed new deal until 2021

Pochettino has been linked with both Manchester United and PSG but will sign a new contract in the coming days

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has trained 11 of the last 19 England debutants (Getty Images)

Mauricio Pochettino has verbally agreed a new five-year contract, with the Tottenham manager confirming the news himself in his pre-match press conference.

The Argentine admitted that a deal has been reached between himself and the club’s chairman, Daniel Levy, that will see him add a two-year extension to his current deal – which expires in 2019 – and added that he expects to sign the contract within the next few days.

Pochettino’s revelation will delight Tottenham fans who reacted with concern to his admission in midweek that managing Paris Saint-Germain would be “a dream”, having played for the French club during his playing career.

The former Southampton manager has also been linked with a move to Manchester United to replace Louis van Gaal, but Spurs are hugely reluctant to let the manager leave and have signalled their intent by offering a new deal which will run until the summer of 2021.

Speaking ahead of Monday night’s Premier League trip to Chelsea, Pochettino said: "It was an easy decision when you feel the love of the people and the potential of the club is massive, so why change?

"We create a good atmosphere on the training ground and I think we can achieve big things in the future. I believe in this project and this club. I want to stay here."

Pochettino will sign a contract that runs until 2021 (Getty)

Spurs could begin the match at Stamford Bridge knowing their Premier League title challenge is already over, with Leicester poised to claim a first Premier League crown if they defeat Manchester United the day before.

However, should Leicester fail to win at Old Trafford, Spurs will have the chance to cut the lead at the top to as little as four points, though the odds are stacked firmly against Pochettino’s side heading into the final three matches of the season.

"We started to speak before, a few months ago, and today I think is a good moment to communicate we have reached the verbal agreement," Pochettino said.

"I am very happy. I wanted to stay for many reasons. Tottenham have unbelievable potential. We created after two years here a great group of players.

"We have a very strong squad, young, with potential to be a top team. The staff and the supporters are unbelievable, there is massive potential, why not stay here?"

Pochettino also touched on Dele Alli’s ban, with the England midfielder ruled out for the rest of the season after receiving a three-match suspension for striking West Bromwich Albion’s Claudio Yacob. Addressing Alli’s aggressive streak – that has been on display already this season- Pochettino admitted that the 20-year-old cannot change, but admitted he made a mistake in reacting to provocation from the West Brom midfielder.


 Alli has been given a three-match ban 
 (Getty)

"He has a very strong character and personality and for that he is one of the best players in England. We cannot change him but he made a mistake, everyone can make mistakes," Pochettino added.

"It is true when you make a mistake you need to pay and he knows he made a mistake. It is his first season in the Premier League. He is a talented player but he knows.

"It was an action that nobody feels proud of that but it is only a mistake, one mistake, a small mistake. He has paid for that and should learn from that."


 Alli reacted to a string of strong tackles from Yacob 
 (Getty)

With Alli set to be included in Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the European Championships, Pochettino added: "It is very important that he keeps his performance and all the levels of physical condition.

"He will be selected for the Euros and needs to keep his level. For us it is true the next few weeks he cannot play but he needs to work, maybe a little bit more to keep his physical level."