Roberto Mancini has revealed he is in talks with Tottenham over the vacant managerial post at White Hart Lane.

The current Lazio coach admitted he could be tempted by a move to the Premiership.

“We talked just to get to know each other,’ said Mancini. ‘Just to test the water, that type of thing,” he revealed today.

“I have a long contract with Lazio, but you never know.

“I have always said that I would like to train an English club as the football there is so enjoyable and the players have a great spirit and work together so you can always do something there.

“It might sound strange, but Spurs are an important club.”

Mancini has grown increasingly frustrated with Lazio’s financial problems which have forced him to offload several key players in the last 18 months.

Last December, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy told the supporters’ group Tottenham Trust that he is certain the incoming manager “would approve of” the signings then planned for the January transfer window, implying that the identity of the next Spurs manager was already known.