Tottenham Hotspur players are concerned that Mauricio Pochettino could be tempted away from the club at the end of the season.
Those fears about the manager’s future will only grow if gloomy predictions, made to Telegraph Sport, that Spurs will not be able to move into their new stadium before February prove correct.
Sources close to Pochettino insist there is no chance of him leaving mid-season and that the Argentine remains committed to leading the club into the new stadium.But there is a feeling among some players that Tottenham will face a battle to convince Pochettino to stay if Manchester United or Real Madrid come calling in the summer.
Madrid have put Santiago Solari in interim charge after sacking Julen Lopetegui and would most likely have to keep the full-time post available until next summer to get Pochettino.
The 46-year-old has emerged as the favourite to succeed Jose Mourinho at United if the Portuguese leaves Old Trafford at the end of his third season in charge.
Pochettino ignored interest from Chelsea to sign a new five-year Tottenham contract in the summer and Dele Alli has become the latest player to sign a new deal, worth in excess of £100,000-a-week, which runs to 2024.
But Pochettino has made no secret of his frustrations in recent weeks. Ahead of Monday night’s defeat by Manchester City, he admitted to reaching his lowest point at Tottenham following delays over the stadium and a failure to sign any players during the summer transfer window.