Mauricio Pochettino was the instigator of Tuesday’s meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson but Tottenham remain confident their head coach will sign his new contract.
Pochettino has verbally agreed a new five-year deal with Spurs but he and assistant Jesus Perez were pictured leaving a London restaurant with Ferguson, who retains a strong influence at Manchester United and works as a director for the club.
Ferguson expressed his admiration for Pochettino earlier this year, sparking rumours the Argentinian could be a candidate to take over should Louis van Gaal leave Old Trafford this summer.
But it is understood that it was Pochettino who set up the get-together with the former United boss and that he was open about it from the start, informing Tottenham last week that the meeting was going to take place.
The pair have spoken before at League Managers Association events and it is believed they organised a few times to meet socially, only to have to cancel due to other commitments.
Sources say Pochettino was determined to keep to the arrangement on this occasion, insisting he had nothing to hide. The fact they met in central London and in the middle of the day would certainly suggest there was no intention to keep it secret.
Pochettino revealed on April 29 his verbal agreement over a two-year contract extension until 2021, and said at the time he expected it to be made official within a few days.
COMMENTS