Tottenham Hotspur have dismissed reports that Mark Hughes has been sounded out to replace Juande Ramos as manager of the struggling north London club.

A report in The Sun claimed that Hughes had been offered a five-year deal worth around £20million to lure him from his position as manager at the richest club in the world - with Manchester City now backed by the Abu Dhabi United Group - to the Premier League's bottom side.

But Spurs took an unusual step on Friday and issued a statement to reject rumours that an offer has been made to former Blackburn Rovers boss Hughes.

"The club largely refrains from making statements of this nature unless absolutely necessary in order to set the record straight in light of wholly inaccurate reporting," read the statement.

"An article on the back page of this morning's Sun newspaper reports that the club has made an offer to Mark Hughes to take over as manager during the forthcoming international break.

"This story is completely untrue and without foundation and the matter is being discussed with the publication."

In October 2007 Ramos replaced Martin Jol as Tottenham manager amid reports that he was approached by the White Hart Lane whilst Jol was still in the job.

Tottenham's chairman Daniel Levy denied the truth of the reports at the time but as Jol's position became increasingly undermined by the media speculation the Dutchman was indeed eventually replaced by Ramos, who resigned as coach of Sevilla.

Last season Ramos won the Carling Cup with Spurs but the club has made a terrible start to this campaign. Spurs are currently winless in the League, having taken just two points from their opening six games.