Mauricio Pochettino has admitted he is 'motivated' for his 'next project' amid links with Newcastle United.
Pochettino has been linked with the St James' Park hotseat, with reports suggesting he is the number one choice of the club's prospective new owners. However, talk of an immediate change of manager under the new regime is said to be premature.
News emerged almost a fortnight ago that PCP Capital Partners' takeover bid for the club had reached the Premier League's Owners and Directors' Test stage.
The bid, spearheaded by financier Amanda Staveley and also involving the Reuben brothers, Simon and David, is backed by the mega-rich Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
It is Chronicle Live's understanding the would-be owners are expecting to get the green light from the Premier League with the owner's and director's test close to its final stages.
It has led to speculation that Pochettino could replace Steve Bruce and while appearing on BT Sport's playback of Tottenham's win over Ajax in the Champions League semi-finals last season, he admitted he would love to return to Spurs one day.
However, he also insists he is 'motivated' for his 'next challenge'.
He said: "It was an amazing journey that finished in the way that, of course, no one wanted to finish.
"But deeper in my soul, in my heart, our ways will cross again. From now, and since the day I left the club, my dream would be to be back to try to finish the work we didn't finish.
"We were so close to winning the right trophies - Premier League and Champions League.
"But now, of course, I am looking forward to move on and I am so motivated for the next project but deep inside I would like one day to be back."
