The following article is a special report; all information presented has been gleaned from Football FanCast sources unless otherwise stated.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has refused to resign from his position despite increasing pressure surrounding his role, sources have told Football FanCast.

Various reports on Monday evening suggested that the Argentine is likely to leave the club, with The Daily Mail claiming it is a matter of when, rather than if, he departs north London.

However, sources within the club have informed FFC that, while chairman Daniel Levy and Pochettino did hold a meeting over the international break, Pochettino is adamant that he will not walk away.

It is unclear if Levy asked him to do so, but there are plans being drawn up in case a change is made at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs are currently 14^th in the Premier League and a loss to West Ham United this weekend could well see Levy’s hand forced, particular if they slip three further points behind the top four. They are currently 11 behind Manchester City.

Any deal to sack Pochettino would involve a hefty compensation fee; £12.5m is the figure quoted by The Daily Telegraph, but he has made it clear that he does not intend to walk away mid-season. One source intimated that the former Southampton boss had essentially told Levy he would have to sack him if he wanted him gone.

FFC reported earlier this month that RB Leipzig head coach Julian Nagelsmann is their top choice to replace him should he leave the club.

Levy is said to be “all over” the German, who is just 32 and has taken Leipzig to second in the Bundesliga.

However, they have not placed all of their eggs in one basket, with another source confirming that talks have taken place with Jose Mourinho’s camp.

Indeed, the former Manchester United and Chelsea boss is currently out of work and contact was initiated in order to gauge the Portuguese’s interest in taking over in north London.

Sources say that Mourinho is not the front runner for the role but he is available and would be able to step in without any compensation being paid to another club, while Massimiliano Allegri, who is also unemployed, has been mentioned as another possible contender.

Dismissing Pochettino ahead of the January transfer window would bring with it a cadre of issues, not least surrounding recruitment, but Spurs may now have entered a period of brinkmanship.

It all comes down to who is willing to blink first.