Tottenham transfer news: Spurs enter tug-of-war with Pep Guardiola for Arsenal figurehead

Mikel Arteta‘s football playing days may be almost up, but his football coaching career could just be getting into its infancy. While the Arsenal captain has already received appeals from incoming Man City manager Pep Guardiola to join his coaching staff at Etihad Stadium, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino does not plan to let such a talented leader escape London.

According to the Mirror, the Spurs manager is keeping a close eye on the situation between Arteta and Guardiola in hopes of getting a chance to make his own pitch to the Spanish midfielder and convince him to join his staff.

Arteta and Pochettino played together at Paris Saint-Germain back when Arteta was on loan from Barcelona B and the Spurs boss was still a centre-back. In the past, Arteta has said that Pochettino is ‘like a father’ to him.

However, the Arsenal midfielder also became close friends with Pep Guardiola during their playing days together in Spain. With the Bayern Munich manager moving to the Etihad, he’ll likely have much more to offer Arteta than just a chance to stick it to Arsene Wenger.

It is widely believed to be a near-certainty that the 34-year-old Arteta will retire at the end of the season.

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