Tottenham Hotspur fan favourite and ex-boss Mauricio Pochettino could make a 'return' to north London, hints reporter Graeme Bailey.

The Lowdown: Conte era excites...

The north Londoners were guided back into a Premier League top four place last campaign by current manager Antonio Conte and could even climb to second with victory against Manchester United this evening.

Spurs have lost just once all season thus far and only rivals Arsenal and Man City have scored more goals than Conte's side (premierleague.com), prompting optimism at N17 and a real hope for success in the future.

The Lilywhites have also reportedly been 'working' on a possible Conte contract extension behind-the-scenes and talks could 'intensify' in November during the World Cup.

However, talk of a possible reunion with Pochettino is still prevalent, with 90min journalist Bailey now hinting at the 'possibility' on social media.

The Latest: Bailey hints at Pochettino 'return'...

The Argentine, who guided Spurs to a Champions League final in 2019, winning over countless supporters during his tenure, is currently attracting interest from Aston Villa.

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However, it is believed that Pochettino may be holding out for a return to Hotspur Way.

Bailey, making a statement on Twitter, hints a possible return for the 50-year-old is a 'possibility' amid his Villa links.

He explained:

"Mauricio Pochettino strongly linked with Villa but with the possibility of a return to Tottenham on the horizon - it would not be easy to land him."

The Verdict: Fall-back option?

If, for whatever reason, Conte were to part company with Tottenham at the end of this season, we believe Pochettino should certainly be considered as a fall-back replacement for the Italian.

The former Paris-Saint Germain coach knows Spurs inside and out, enjoys a good relationship with fans and has proven to be fairly successful on a tight budget.

For now, though, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy should fight tooth and nail to keep Conte, who has seemingly transformed the mentality of the club.