Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has announced he plans to extend his contract by two years until 2021.

The Argentinian has steered Spurs to second place in the Premier League and the north Londoners still have an outside chance of winning the title, trailing Leicester by seven points with three games to go.

Pochettino’s success has inevitably led to speculation that other clubs may try to recruit him, with some reports claiming Manchester United would view him as a good fit to replace Louis van Gaal.

But he is now poised to extend his contract with Tottenham and said on Friday: “It was an easy decision when you feel the love of the people and the potential of the club is massive, so why change?

“We create a good atmosphere on the training ground and I think we can achieve big things in the future. I believe in this project and this club. I want to stay here.”

Pochettino said he has reached a verbal agreement over the two-year extension and expects the deal to be confirmed in the coming days.

He was Tottenham’s fifth appointment in seven years when he took charge in May 2014 but he has nurtured a talented squad, with his side on the brink of Champions League qualification this season.

Spurs are also due to move into their new 61,000-seater stadium in 2018-19 and Pochettino hailed a bright future for the club.

“We started to speak before, a few months ago, and today I think is a good moment to communicate we have reached the verbal agreement,” Pochettino said.

“I am very happy. I wanted to stay for many reasons. Tottenham have unbelievable potential. We created after two years here a great group of players.

“We have a very strong squad, young, with potential to be a top team. The staff and the supporters are unbelievable, there is massive potential, why not stay here?”

One of Pochettino’s greatest successes has been Dele Alli, but the midfielder will miss the rest of the season after receiving a three-game ban for punching West Brom’s Claudio Yacob on Monday.

It is not the first time Alli has been guilty of ill-discipline this season but Pochettino said the talented 20-year-old cannot be changed.

“He has a very strong character and personality and for that he is one of the best players in England. We cannot change him but he made a mistake, everyone can make mistakes,” Pochettino said.

“It is true when you make a mistake you need to pay and he knows he made a mistake. It is his first season in the Premier League. He is a talented player but he knows.

“It was an action that nobody feels proud of that but it is only a mistake, one mistake, a small mistake. He has paid for that and should learn from that.”

Alli is likely to be a key figure for England at Euro 2016 this summer and his suspension may at least allow him to recuperate before the tournament starts.

The youngster’s absence will be felt when Spurs play Chelsea on Monday but Pochettino said he will continue to train as normal until the end of the campaign.

“It is very important that he keeps his performance and all the levels of physical condition,” Pochettino said.

“He will be selected for the Euros and needs to keep his level. For us it is true the next few weeks he cannot play but he needs to work, maybe a little bit more to keep his physical level.”