Southampton appear resigned to losing head coach Mauricio Pochettino to Tottenham after intermediaries started to make discreet checks on possible replacements.

The Argentine is the favourite to become the new boss at White Hart Lane after Tim Sherwood was sacked last week, leaving Daniel Levy looking for his ninth permanent manager in 13 years as Tottenham chairman.

Southampton had been hopeful of keeping Pochettino and have prepared a new deal for the 42-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of next season. But Standard Sport understands Saints have started to make contingency plans, in the event Pochettino decides to leave the south coast for north London.

It is believed Southampton would like to be kept informed of the plans of Oscar Garcia, the Spanish coach who quit Brighton earlier this month after the team were eliminated by Derby in the semi-finals of the Championship play-offs. Garcia has also been the subject of interest from Sunderland and from his home country, where a number of managerial changes are expected in the close season.

It is thought that Dan Petrescu, sacked by Russian club Dynamo Moscow in April, and former Chelsea boss Roberto di Matteo would also be considered by the Southampton board were they to lose Pochettino. Petrescu had a brief spell as a player with Saints in the 2001-02 season and admitted last season that he was desperate to manage in the Premier League.

Di Matteo, 43, has been without a club since he was dismissed by Chelsea in November 2012 — just six months after leading them to victory in the Champions League.

Tottenham season review 5 show all Tottenham season review 1/5 The manager Andre Villas-Boas/Tim Sherwood. Much was expected of AVB in his second season at the helm but sterile football and poor decisions off the field - such as his bizarre criticism of health professionals after Hugo Lloris' head injury at Everton in October - meant the writing was on the wall. Sherwood's team took 42 points from 22 games but he never won the full backing of the board. Getty 2/5 Main man Hugo Lloris. The France captain established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in England thanks to a series of outstanding performances. Working with an unreliable defence that often changed from week to week, Lloris' form never dipped. Paris St Germain are said to be interested and Spurs could struggle to hang on to him. Getty 3/5 Best buy Christian Eriksen. The Danish playmaker can reflect on an excellent first season in English football. He quickly became a leader of the team as well as the main creative force. The £11million fee paid to Ajax was an excellent deal for Spurs and, at just 22, his influence and value will surely grow rapidly. Getty 4/5 Best result Manchester United 1 Tottenham 2 Getty 5/5 Worst result Manchester City 6 Tottenham 0 Getty 1/5 The manager Andre Villas-Boas/Tim Sherwood. Much was expected of AVB in his second season at the helm but sterile football and poor decisions off the field - such as his bizarre criticism of health professionals after Hugo Lloris' head injury at Everton in October - meant the writing was on the wall. Sherwood's team took 42 points from 22 games but he never won the full backing of the board. Getty 2/5 Main man Hugo Lloris. The France captain established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in England thanks to a series of outstanding performances. Working with an unreliable defence that often changed from week to week, Lloris' form never dipped. Paris St Germain are said to be interested and Spurs could struggle to hang on to him. Getty 3/5 Best buy Christian Eriksen. The Danish playmaker can reflect on an excellent first season in English football. He quickly became a leader of the team as well as the main creative force. The £11million fee paid to Ajax was an excellent deal for Spurs and, at just 22, his influence and value will surely grow rapidly. Getty 4/5 Best result Manchester United 1 Tottenham 2 Getty 5/5 Worst result Manchester City 6 Tottenham 0 Getty

Tottenham are said to be confident that Pochettino would be keen to join them after sounding out members of his entourage. Pochettino would make it clear that he expects his Spanish-speaking staff — assistant Jesus Perez, first-team coach Miguel D’Agostino, goalkeeping coach Toni Jimenez and technical support coach Fran Alonso — to move to the capital with him, which would mean a bill of about £4million for Spurs to release the quintet from their contracts. Pochettino is expected to request an annual salary in the region of £3m.

The other principal contender for the Spurs role, Frank de Boer, has returned from Indonesia, where his Ajax side were on a close-season tour, but his brother, Ronald, said yesterday that there had been no contact from Spurs since an initial enquiry to Ajax last month.

If Tottenham were to change their mind about Pochettino, it is thought they would have to move quickly to land De Boer, as Ajax are keen to avoid a managerial saga that runs deep into the summer.