Two more names are reported to be on Southampton’s radar with the Premier League club considering sacking Mark Hughes.
Mark Hughes really didn’t need that.
The Welshman is under huge pressure after Southampton’s dreadful start to the Premier League season so he will have been praying for a much-needed second win of the campaign as he returned to former club Fulham on Saturday.
But, despite a clinical Stuart Armstrong double, Fulham emerged 3-2 victors at Craven Cottage. And, according to The Mirror (26 November, page 55), this has left Hughes on the brink of the sack.
It is reported by the Mirror (26 November, page 55) that Southampton, who have backed Hughes in public, are already considering replacements behind the scenes with Brendan Rodgers and Peter Bosz on their radar.
Rodgers has spent the last two years in Scotland with Celtic, leading The Hoops to successive domestic trebles. He also has a wealth of Premier League experience, having established Swansea City in the top flight and leading Liverpool to the brink of the title in 2014.
55-year-old Bosz, meanwhile, has been out of the game for 11 months, having spent just half a season in charge of Borussia Dortmund in 2017/18.
The Dutchman, who is renowned for his possession-based and high-pressing style, was a disaster in the Bundesliga but guided a youthful Ajax side to the final of the Europa League just 18 months ago.
The report adds that Southampton are determined to learn from last season, when they nearly sleepwalked into the Championship after backing Mauricio Pellegrino for far too long.
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