Sir Alex Ferguson 'believes Spurs' Mauricio Pochettino is the best manager in the Premier League'

Lammy, MP for Tottenham, revealed this week that Ferguson had told him of his admiration for Pochettino - who has guided Spurs to their current position of second in the Premier League table - during a recent charity function.

"I’m going to let you in to a secret," Lammy told The Spurs Show podcast. "About six weeks ago I sat next to Alex Ferguson at a dinner in support of grassroots football abroad.

"He said to me, 'I think you guys have the best manager in the Premier League.' Alex Ferguson said that."

In recent days Pochettino has been linked with a switch to Old Trafford in the summer, and Ferguson's purported comments will do little to quell the speculation - especially given Ferguson's perceived influence around the club.

On Wednesday The Times wrote: "Lammy’s revelation will increase speculation that United want the Argentinian to replace Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford, since it has been widely reported that the Spurs head coach is high on their list of potential candidates, along with José Mourinho and Ryan Giggs, United’s assistant manager."

However, the newspaper added that Ferguson's sway at Old Trafford has diminished in the years since his retirement, with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward entrusted with much of the responsibility for major decisions by the owners, the Glazer family.