Fearing that Real Madrid want Mauricio Pochettino to replace the recently departed Zinedine Zidane as manager at the Bernabeu, Spurs fans have been slightly frantically repeating to themselves that Pochettino has just signed a long-term deal at the club.

That would make it extraordinarily expensive to pry him away, even for Madrid. However, Pochettino has told Spanish paper El Confidencial that should he be made an offer, he would "have to listen", though he's had "no news" from Madrid.

"When Real Madrid call you, you have to listen to them," he said. "Although in this case it doesn’t depend on me."

He went on to dampen down the speculation: "I have just signed a long contract with Tottenham and I am very happy here."

"I am happy at Tottenham because they let me work and we are growing together. Right now I want to focus on planning for next season and keep out of all the things that are being said. There will be lots of rumours, lots of things said, but I have no news from Real Madrid.

"I’m working very comfortably at Tottenham and it’s my obligation to focus on that. I do not want, nor can I, comment on Zidane going but what he has done is undoubtedly very big: no one has won three Champions Leagues in a row recently."

While that's a pretty convincing restatement of fidelity to Spurs, it does sound like Pochettino's left a leg out there.