Louis Van Gaal would be happy to work with the bulk of Tottenham’s current squad if he becomes the club’s new manager.

Van Gaal remains the favoured choice of chairman Daniel Levy to take over at White Hart Lane in the summer, and the Dutchman becomes a free agent after the World Cup, when his contract with Holland ends. He is thought to have offered assurances that he would not demand a significant transfer campaign if he does take the job.

Van Gaal met Levy in December, after the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas and before Tim Sherwood was made head coach. Tottenham remain strongly in the frame to hire him, but Van Gaal is also likely to be offered the job at Spartak Moscow, and has a close eye on the situation at Manchester United, where poor results have placed pressure on David Moyes.

Clearly, the United job would be more attractive than the one at Spurs because of the greater prestige and potential of the club, as well as the history of domestic and European success. Yet unless matters deteriorate dramatically over the remainder of the campaign, Moyes should still keep his post.

If he does come to Spurs, Standard Sport understands that Van Gaal would not seek to effect sweeping changes, as he believes strongly that his coaching methods are sound enough to improve most players, especially young ones.

This standpoint contrasts with that of Sherwood, who would be keen to overhaul the current squad should he retain the faith of Levy beyond the end of the current campaign. Of the seven signings made last summer, at a cost of more than £100million, Sherwood rates only one – Christian Eriksen – highly. He is thought to be willing to ship out the other six, as well as Lewis Holtby, and replace them with players who have more experience of the Premier League.

Van Gaal’s preference would be more to develop the current group, with particular focus on young footballers. Unlike other top-level managers, Van Gaal distrusts expensive, high-profile signings, preferring to work with men who are more receptive to his ideas. Daley Blind, the 24-year-old Ajax midfielder, is a potential signing if Van Gaal does take over at Spurs.

Top 10 Tottenham goalscorers 10 show all Top 10 Tottenham goalscorers 1/10 Jimmy Greaves - 266 goals in 380 games 2/10 Bobby Smith - 208 goals in 317 games 3/10 Martin Chivers - 174 goals in 367 games 4/10 Cliff Jones - 159 goals in 378 games 5/10 Jermain Defoe - 143 goals in 363 games 6/10 George Hunt - 138 goals in 198 games 7/10 Len Duquemin - 134 goals in 307 games 8/10 Alan Gilzean - 133 goals in 429 games 9/10 Teddy Sheringham - 125 goals in 277 games 10/10 Robbie Keane - 122 goals in 306 games 1/10 Jimmy Greaves - 266 goals in 380 games 2/10 Bobby Smith - 208 goals in 317 games 3/10 Martin Chivers - 174 goals in 367 games 4/10 Cliff Jones - 159 goals in 378 games 5/10 Jermain Defoe - 143 goals in 363 games 6/10 George Hunt - 138 goals in 198 games 7/10 Len Duquemin - 134 goals in 307 games 8/10 Alan Gilzean - 133 goals in 429 games 9/10 Teddy Sheringham - 125 goals in 277 games 10/10 Robbie Keane - 122 goals in 306 games

The 62-year-old is proud of his track record of working with less experienced players, having led a youthful Ajax side to the Champions League title in 1995.

He also handed first-team debuts to Xavi and Andres Iniesta at Barcelona, and Thomas Muller and Holger Badstuber at Bayern Munich. The first three are now stars of the world game.

He is keen for young players to have inquiring minds, and some of those he developed at Ajax, including Frank De Boer, Clarence Seedorf, Ronald De Boer and Danny Blind, have moved into coaching after retirement.

Van Gaal is also committed to positive, attacking football, placing great emphasis on entertainment, rather than just securing useful results.

When Van Gaal makes his next move, his assistant is likely to be someone with significant experience of that club. It is understood that he will also seek to bring with him some or all of goalkeeping coach Frans Hoek, technical expert Andries Jonker and forwards coach Patrick Kluivert, the former Holland striker.

It would be particularly difficult to hire Jonker, though, as he accepted the chance to succeed Liam Brady as Arsenal’s academy director, and he is due to start his new job on July 1.



Meanwhile, Jan Vertonghen could miss Monday’s home game with Sunderland due to the ankle injury sustained against Liverpool, but the problem is not thought to be too serious.

The defender limped off during the first half of the 4-0 defeat at Anfield. He has now had a scan and should recover to play a part in the run-in, as well as Belgium’s World Cup campaign.