Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was responsible for arranging the social lunch with Sir Alex Ferguson that took place earlier this week, t he Independent reports.





The pair were seen leaving a restaurant in Mayfair at lunchtime on Tuesday, igniting further speculation that Pochettino could replace Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford.





Sir Alex has been an admirer of Pochettino for some time, but it has been revealed that it was the Spurs manager who set up the social meeting. There was an air of transparency surrounding the meeting as Pochettino informed his current employers that he was going out for a long-overdue meeting with the Scot.





Pochettino is also an admirer of Sir Alex Ferguson and, having recently agreed a five-year extension at Tottenham Hotspur verbally, might be looking at Sir Alex as a benchmark and mentor as he secures longevity with Tottenham Hotspur.

The respect between the pair is mutual, with Ferguson's admiration becoming apparent when earlier this year, Member of Parliament for Tottenham David Lammy said:





"About six weeks ago, I sat next to Sir Alex Ferguson at a dinner in support of grassroots football abroad. He said to me, 'I think you have the best manager in the Premier league.' Alex Ferguson said that."





In March, Ferguson said of Pochettino, "This lad has composure. You never see him ruffled and the way his team play is a testimony to the work he is doing."





It is understood that Pochettino took Tottenham training in the morning, met Ferguson for lunch in Mayfair and then returned to the club in the afternoon.