Wayne Veysey

Mon 6 February 2017 6:20, UK

By Harry Sykes

Jamie Redknapp has hailed managerial messiah Mauricio Pochettino as Tottenham’s best signing for many years.

The Sky Sports pundit claimed the Argentine has been a far more important arrival to the club than not only the players he has recruited but those who came before him.

Pochettino, who was appointed in the summer of 2014, guided Tottenham to third place in the league in his second season at the helm and into the Champions League for only the second time in their history.

The former Southampton and Espanyol boss has continued to make his mark at White Hart Lane this season and Spurs have emerged as Chelsea’s closest title challengers.

Antonio Conte’ side have a huge gap at the top of nine points but Tottenham won 1-0 against Middlesbrough on Saturday to stay in contention.

Former Spurs midfielder Redknapp has been blown away by the impact of Pochettino and explained why the board need to look after their top man.

“Never mind the players, Mauricio Pochettino has been Tottenham’s best signing in recent years,” wrote Redknapp in his weekly Mail column.

“Under the Argentine, Spurs have become serious contenders and, with a new stadium on the horizon, things could not be better.

“No Tottenham boss has a better record after his first 100 Premier League games than Pochettino, winning 52, drawing 28 and losing 20, and that does not surprise me.

“He is a great organiser, the squad love him and he is one of the world’s best at improving players. Pochettino has done a superb job and Tottenham must make sure they look after him.”

Spurs are next in action on Saturday of next week when they travel to Liverpool for an eagerly anticipated match-up of two of the Champions League calibre clubs.

In other Tottenham news, Daniel Levy has lined up the next Spurs arrival as the deal is all but done.

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