Spurs may opt for Ranieri

Claudio Ranieri could be a contender for the vacant Tottenham manager's job if he leaves Chelsea in the summer.

Ranieri's agent, Jon Smith, confirmed the Italian coach has several job offers in the pipeline if he is axed at the end of the season.

Spurs refused to comment on speculation that he could succeed the sacked Glenn Hoddle as they are still pursuing their dream team of Giovanni Trapattoni and Mark Hughes.

But Spurs are being frustrated by the Italian national coach who is stalling on the deal offered to him.

Smith said: "Claudio is on a good contract at Chelsea and we are not about to jeopardise that, or any future settlement of it, by making any moves now.

"But if he were to be fired, there are clubs at home and abroad who have indicated their interest in him.

"Should the situation arise, I know he would prefer to stay in this country."

Spurs will have to have a Plan B ready if the Trapattoni-Hughes combination falls through.

Meanwhile, David Pleat was the target of the Spurs fans at Old Trafford during the 3-0 defeat by Manchester United.

The supporters seemed to take issue with his second-half substitution of Jermain Defoe for Freddie Kanoute.

They chanted "You don't know what you're doing" - and the flak appeared to have affected the acting manager afterwards.

When asked why £6.25million signing Helder Postiga, Johnnie Jackson and Rohan Ricketts were not selected, Pleat sarcastically replied: "I am only allowed to play 16, that's 11 players and five subs.

"So Postiga and Jackson were not in that 16 because I had Jamie Redknapp and Kanoute. Ricketts wasn't in the 18."

Neither were ageing stars Gus Poyet and Darren Anderton. The fans wanted Pleat to add Kanoute to the attack but he dismissed their views and explained his reasons for doing so.

He added: "They would have probably wanted me to put Postiga on as well but he wasn't on the bench.

"I didn't want to put three centreforwards on because it destroys our shape. I know everyone wanted me to do that but we had a more attacking bent when we put Stephane Dalmat on at half-time."

The 11 Pleat did select, which included a difficult debut for 20-yearold Dean Marney at right midfield, toiled with the swirling conditions and United's desire to show they were far from a spent Premiership force.

After being dumped out of the Champions League by Porto and languishing 12 points behind Arsenal, United were keen to demonstrate that you write them off at your peril.

Spurs offered few attacking ideas and the one real chance they created saw Defoe brought down by Wes Brown on the edge of penalty area without punishment.

Even when Dalmat replaced the woeful Mauricio Taricco at the interval, Spurs failed to threaten despite having more possession.

United went in front in the first half through a simple Ryan Giggs back heel but Spurs managed to prevent more goals until the closing stages when substitutes Christiano Ronaldo and David Bellion got on the score sheet.

The result had never been in doubt, though, and the only surprise was that it took United until the final minutes to add to their goal tally.