The rumour mill started slowly this Friday morning, but it then sped up quite quickly with sources claiming that Saints have agreed terms with whom they hope will be their next manager and the deal could be done today.
The man is question is Ivan Jurić who was recently sacked by Roma, the man breaking the news is Fabrizio Romano and Italian football journalist who has a big reputation for having his finger on the pulse when it comes to transfers and managerial changes across Europe.
He has said on his X account
"Fabrizio Romano
@FabrizioRomano
🚨🔴⚪️ Southampton have agreed deal to appoint Ivan Jurić as new head coach to replace Russell Martin.
Contract set to be signed today.
Verbal agreement in place on contract terms; formally working on exit terms from AS Roma.
Ivan Jurić said yes to Saints FC, Röhl won’t join."
This perhaps wont be welcomed by Southampton supporters, in this horrible season where the club have lurched to a position at the bottom of the Premier League that could have been avoided if Russell Martin had not turned out to be stubborn and refuse to adapt his tactics, the fans are looking for a name they have heard of, a man with Premier League experience.
We at The Ugly Inside revealed that Juric was in the frame on Tuesday and suggested that his managerial record was not one that would excite the Saints supporters.
But it seems that this deal could now be done sometime today.
If it is done then we have to look on the positive side of things, surely he cannot be worse that the way our former manager stuck to his own agenda rather than looked to save Saints from relegation.
It could work if Juric is appointed alongside a good assistant, someone who has a good knowledge of the Premier League, this was the case when Ronald Koeman was appointed back in 2014, Sammy Lee a man with a record in the top flight of English football since the late 1970's both as a player and a manager was brought in alongside him and it meant that Koeman succeeded at St Mary's as he had an assistant who knew the teams, the players and the managers.
I would suggest that this is crucial if Juric is the man, he needs someone that the players know and respect.