Southampton are reportedly interested in Slavisa Jokanovic, and are seemingly part of the group chasing Ryan Sessegnon.
After a difficult season for Southampton – that could still ultimately end in relegation – it is no surprise that the Daily Mirror are reporting that the club are seriously considering Mauricio Pellegrino’s future at St Mary’s.
Pellegrino has struggled to win the fans over this season and it appears that many will be urging the club to make the change in the summer regardless of whether he keeps them up or not.
The Mirror reports that Fulham’s Slavisa Jokanovic and Ostersunds boss Graham Potter are two of the names being considered by the south coast club. And while Potter’s work in Sweden deserves an enormous amount of credit, it is perhaps the links with Jokanovic that may excite the Saints fans.
While the Cottagers are not currently in the top two in the Championship, Fulham undoubtedly play some of the most exciting football in the division and their promotion appears inevitable at some stage if Jokanovic keeps the same group together in the next year or so.
Though, perhaps Jokanovic may actually be the one to jump ship if the Saints are able to tempt him away from Craven Cottage. And if he does go, perhaps it would be fair to suggest that Southampton would become the favourites to land the hottest property in English football right now, Ryan Sessegnon.
The Telegraph reported in December that they wanted the 17-year-old who is enjoying the most incredible season in the second tier, having scored 14 league goals despite starting 19 times at left-back this term.
With The Sun recently reporting that Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are interested, and that United and Tottenham are currently leading the charge, the Saints may have felt that their hopes had probably been dashed before they had ever got off the ground.
However, perhaps appointing Jokanovic would bring them right back into the race for the teenager – who The Sun report is set to cost at least £40 million – and may even see them leap ahead of the likes of Tottenham and Manchester United.
Sessegnon’s next move could be vital for his development, so he would be forgiven for looking at Southampton – if they stay up and appoint Jokanovic – and seeing a club where he can take his game to the next level. And with much of the Virgil van Dijk money still to spend, the Saints cannot afford to allow the winger slip through their fingers if he provides any inclination that he could consider joining.
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