Tottenham transfer rumours: Mauricio Pochettino targets Southampton defender Nathaniel Clyne

Tottenham Hotspur are preparing a move in signing Southampton defender Nathaniel Clyne, according to the Telegraph.

The 24-year-old has one year left on his contract at St Mary's Stadium and has not agreed a new deal to extend his stay with his current employers beyond the next season. He has been attracting interest from Manchester United as Louis van Gaal was keen on signing the right-back.

However, the Mirror reports the 20-times English champions have ended their interest in landing Clyne. The Dutchman wants to look elsewhere in the transfer market rather than make an approach for the Saints star.

Southampton are hopeful a new deal can be agreed with Clyne in order to keep him in the South Coast. The north London side are closely monitoring the full-back's contract situation at the club.

Clyne has already worked under Mauricio Pochettino while the latter was in charge at Southampton.

Pochettino has Kyle Walker as the first choice right-back in the squad. He missed the start of the season due to an injury, which also forced him to miss last summer's World Cup in Brazil.

Since returning from injury, Walker has failed to impress as his form has dipped in the second half of the season. This has forced Pochettino to make an approach for Clyne in order to improve competition.

Clyne was selected ahead of Walker for England and his potential arrival could see the latter lose his spot to his compatriot at Tottenham as well. Any move from Pochettino's side for the defender will see them face competition from Chelsea.

The Premier League champions are also looking to make a move for Clyne this summer. Meanwhile, Southampton's chief executive, Les Reed remains confident the Englishman will end the speculation by signing a new deal.

"Ronald [Koeman] made a comment that there was a deadline but that deadline was more about getting a response, and that issue has been resolved," Reed told Southampton's official website.

"I'm in discussions with his agent and that has been very positive. Nathaniel has made statements that he's happy here."