Mauricio Pochettino favourite for Newcastle job: Former Spurs boss eyes return in future but focused on next job

Pochettino is the odds-on favourite to be the next Magpies manager, with the Saudi takeover group making him their top target once they seize control of the club.

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The Argentinian is being lined up for a huge £19m a year contract at St James' Park, and will surely have a more than decent war chest to turn things around in the north east.

It was a case of so near yet so far at Spurs, with Pochettino getting huge credit for his exploits but just failing to win the Premier League then losing out to Liverpool in the Champions League last year.

Six months later he was gone, but despite being "motivated for his next project" he is keen to return to Spurs one day to finish the job he started.

"It was an amazing journey that finished the way no-one wanted it to finish," Pochettino told BT Sport.

"But deep in my heart I am sure our paths will cross again. From the day I left the club, my dream is to be back one day and to try to finish the work we didn't finish. We were so closing to winning the Premier League and Champions League.

"But of course I am looking forward to moving on and I am so motivated for the next project.

"But deep inside I want to go back because the fans are so special. Maybe in five years, maybe in 10 years, but before I die I want to manage Tottenham.

"I want to feel what it means to win one title with Tottenham because the fans are amazing, all the love we received was amazing and that is a good opportunity to pay back all the love they showed us from day one."

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