Tottenham Hotspur legend Graham Roberts believes that Mauricio Pochettino did well to manoeuvre himself so he earned a new contract from PSG amid interest from the north London club.

Spurs opened talks with the Argentine over a potentially sensational return to the club, just 18 months after sacking him and replacing him with Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho was sacked by Spurs in April and the club have been searching for a new boss ever since.

PSG showed no signs of allowing Pochettino to leave and they actually triggered a clause in his contract, tying him to the club for another year.

Roberts thinks that may well have been the plan for Pochettino all along, and he was impressed with the tactics shown by the former Spurs and Southampton boss.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, Roberts said: “I think Pochettino was very clever with what he did, getting another year extension on his contract in Paris. In them big clubs, if you don’t win the Champions League or win the league that you’re in, you usually get sacked after a year or 18 months.

“So he’s got another two years now, they’d have to pay him if he leaves there so he’s done very, very well to get that one. I suppose I am saying that it worked in his favour.”

Tottenham's search for a new manager has turned into a right mess. After coming close to appointing Paulo Fonseca and then Gennaro Gattuso, the north London club have ended up with neither.