Southampton are reportedly interested in appointing Nottingham Forest manager and U-17 FIFA World Cup winner Steve Cooper as their successor to Nathan Jones.
According to the Daily Mail, the Saints have a ‘strong interest’ in the 43-year-old coach following the sacking of Jones earlier this week, though Southampton face an uphill battle to appoint Cooper with the Welsh manager having a contract with Forest until 2025.
As per the report, Torino manager Ivan Juric has emerged as a strong contender to take the hot seat at St. Mary’s, with former Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch another candidate for Southampton, who are looking to move on quickly from the disastrous Jones era.
With Southampton sat bottom of the Premier League, the south coast English side will want a manager who can get them out of their rut and start winning them points the second they are appointed, something Cooper could bring if the Saints manage the impossible.
However, as stated, Cooper’s current contract, which was signed earlier this season, lasts until 2025, and Southampton will struggle massively to lure the former England youth manager from the City Ground, with Forest impressing this campaign.
Indeed, whilst Cooper is a perfect fit for Southampton’s current squad and their overall club philosophy, the timing to actually appoint the former Swansea City coach could not be any worse, with the Saints needing a new top candidate with the Forest boss obviously unavailable.
Southampton are deluded if they think they can appoint Cooper
Southampton have often been seen as a Premier League side of ambition. Yet following the doomed appointment of Jones, the Saints will be viewed by many top coaches as something of a poisoned chalice, with Cooper someone wise enough to know that the south coast side are a doomed club.
Whilst there is every chance that Southampton can remain in the Premier League, the St. Mary’s side will need a miracle if their to avoid the drop, with Cooper a coach who will simply not want to join the Saints despite his profile being perfect for the Premier League cellar dwellers.
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