Tottenham have denied making an approach to Ajax for Frank de Boer amid claims they are to part company with manager Tim Sherwood.

It is reported to be a matter of when, not if, Sherwood is replaced at the White Hart Lane helm with suggestions chairman Daniel Levy is ready to cut short the 18-month deal handed to him in December.

Former Holland international De Boer has followed an illustrious playing career with a fine start to managerial life at Ajax, but Spurs deny making contact with the club about their Dutch coach.

De Boer himself has said he is open to speaking with Tottenham in the coming weeks about taking over as manager.

But after De Boer was widely linked with a switch to north London, Tottenham said in a statement on their website: "Reports that we have made approaches to other clubs regarding coaching staff are wholly inaccurate. We have not contacted any club regarding coaching appointments."

De Boer, who also played at Barcelona, Galatasaray, Rangers and then in Qatar, returned to Ajax as a coach following his retirement and has been first-team manager since 2010, leading them to four successive Eredivisie titles.

This season's success has further boosted a burgeoning reputation that has often seen him linked with a move away from the Amsterdam ArenA, and while Tottenham have distanced themselves from De Boer, the 43-year-old has expressed an interest in the post.

"I'm going to think about this possibility after the last league fixture on May 3," De Boer told nos.nl. "I'm going to talk and listen.

"I would like to add something to a club, that people can say they see the hand of Frank de Boer.

"There is a beautiful example at Liverpool. That is what Brendan Rodgers is doing now [making his mark]."

Bookmakers make the Dutchman favourite to become Tottenham's next manager, ousting previous front-runner Mauricio Pochettino of Southampton.