Mark Hughes could pay the price for Southampton’s dismal Premier League start with former Monaco boss Jardim in the frame.
Time moves quickly in football these days. And, although Mark Hughes saved Southampton from the drop just five months ago, it seems the experienced Welshman is set to pay the price for a dreadful start to his first full season at the helm.
Southampton have won just one of their first 11 Premier League games in 2018/19 and were humiliated at the Etihad on Sunday, going down 6-1 to Manchester City.
According to the Mirror (6 November, page 55), failing to beat Watford at St Mary’s this Saturday could be the final straw for ‘Sparky’ with a list of potential replacements being drawn up, including David Moyes and Sam Allardyce.
But, while the unattached duo seem more like short-term quick fixes than an exciting long-term plan, Leonardo Jardim would represent the opposite.
The Venezuelan coach has been linked with the Southampton job ever since being sacked by Ligue 1 strugglers Monaco in October. Former Sporting Lisbon and Olympiakos boss Jardim remains one of the most highly-rated coaches on the continent, however, having led Monaco to the French league title in 2017 not to mention the Champions League semi-finals.
But, the Mirror adds, Jardim is set to move to China with Beijing Guoan the most likely destination. And this seemingly robs Southampton of their most intriguing managerial candidate.
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