Spurs insist Pochettino has big say on transfers

Tottenham have no plans to change manager Mauricio Pochettino’s job title, despite the Argentine’s surprise suggestion that he should revert to being the club’s head coach.

Chairman Daniel Levy will continue to work closely with Pochettino to try to secure at least two more signings ahead of the closure of the transfer window next Thursday, with the 47-year-old remaining on the club’s transfer committee.

Pochettino’s title was changed from head coach to manager when he signed a new contract in 2016 and said: “When I was head coach I was involved in all aspects of the club and now it’s still the same – only that they want to nominate me manager.”

But on Tuesday night in Munich, Pochettino appeared to intimate that there is a difference between the two roles and that his input over transfers and contracts would be better suited to the title of head coach. Pochettino said: “Maybe the club need to change my title description now, because my job now is to coach the team. I am not in charge about the individual situations.”

Telegraph Sport, however, understands that Spurs do not expect to change Pochettino’s title and believe his role within the fourman transfer committee, with Levy, chief scout Steve Hitchen and head of coaching and development John Mcdermott, has not changed. Pochettino has a say on all transfers and contracts, and was believed to be heavily involved in the record signing of Tanguy Ndombele and the sale of Kieran Trippier.

Tottenham will not pursue a signing without the agreement of Pochettino, with Ryan Sessegnon and Giovani Lo Celso heading up the list of targets they are chasing. Manchester United have moved to the front of the queue for Tottenham target Paulo Dybala, the Juventus forwarard. However, Pochettino was given another headache last night as Juan Foyth was carried off on a stretcher in the closing stages of the Audi Cup final with Bayern Munich, which Spurs won 6-5 on penalties after the match ended 2-2, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen scoring in regular time.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane will speak to Gareth Bale after the Wales striker was apparently pictured playing golf during Real Madrid’s Audi Cup game with Tottenham on Tuesday night. Former Tottenham player Bale missed Real’s trip to Germany after his proposed move to Chinese club Jiangsu Suning fell through on Sunday. “He has to look after his responsibilities,” said Zidane.