Ajax boss Frank De Boer admits he turned down an offer from Tottenham in December. De Boer attracted the attention of Spurs after they sacked Andre Villas-Boas nearly two months ago.

Tim Sherwood eventually succeeded Villas-Boas but De Boer's words shed light on Spurs' thoughts at the time and, possibly, on their plans for next season.

"Tottenham called my manager after they sacked Villas-Boas [to say]: 'Is it a possibility?'," De Boer told BBC Sport. "I said no because it was not the right moment in the middle of the season.

"In the future I think can be manager of a club like Tottenham or Liverpool. I think of the history of the clubs and what you can do with the team in the environment of those clubs. It would be my cup of tea, as the expression goes."