Tottenham news: Mauricio Pochettino quashes link to vacant Argentina job to focus on Champions League bid

The 44-year-old has delivered on his promise to transform Spurs into genuine contenders

Mauricio Pochettino during pre-season training for Tottenham (Getty)

Mauricio Pochettino says it is “not the right moment” to become the next coach of Argentina after speculation in his homeland linked the Tottenham Hotspur manager with the job.

The 44-year-old delivered on his promise to transform Spurs into genuine title contenders last season but a late slump in form, picking up just two points from their final four matches, allowed Leicester City to emerge as Premier League champions.

Pochettino has been joined by Diego Simeone, the Atletico Madrid manager, among the leading contenders to replace Gerardo Martino at the Argentine Football Association but the former Southampton boss has moved to quash the suggestion.

Speaking during Tottenham’s pre-season tour of Australia, Pochettino told reporters: “I think the speculation is normal because I am an Argentinian coach at a top club in England. There are a lot of rumours that appear in the media but I am happy at Tottenham and for that reason, this is not the right moment.”

Reports in Argentina suggested talks between Pochettino and the AFA’s president Armando Perez had been pencilled in for this week but the Spurs manager is focussed on ensuring the north London club make a successful return to the Champions League after finishing third last term.

Meanwhile, Pochettino has confirmed Clinton N’Jie has not travelled with the squad to Australia because of injury and not to hold talks with Marseille about a prospective move away.

“N'Jie is injured - he is in London and not available to come. The situation of the other three players [Alex Pritchard, Federico Fazio and Nabil Bentaleb] is very clear. They are not in my plans.”