Ralph Hasenhuttl expected to be named Southampton manager

Ralph Hasenhuttl is on the verge of becoming Southampton’s new manager after the Premier League strugglers moved swiftly to replace the sacked Mark Hughes.

The former Ingolstadt and Leipzig coach opened up at 33-1 for the St Mary’s vacancy behind the likes of Quique Sanchez Flores and Paulo Sousa but it quickly became apparent Hasenhuttl was the number one candidate.

Hasenhuttl was trading as favourite after Hughes’s confirmed departure and some bookmakers have taken down the market as they are sure the Austrian will be next in for the struggling Saints, who are 18th in the Premier League following Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United.

It’s 16-1 bar the long odds-on favourite with Southampton hoping the 51-year-old will be in situ for Saturday’s relegation six-pointer at Cardiff.

Southampton, who are 100-30 for the drop, are in action before that, travelling to Wembley to take on Tottenham on Wednesday with Kelvin Davis taking temporary charge.

It would be a coup for Southampton if they could tempt Hasenhuttl to the club.

• Who is Ralph Hassenhuttl? Mark Langdon profiles the Austrian coach

He is is seen as a talented coach with great attention to detail and his modern pressing, offensive tactics have often been compared to Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp after the pair did their coaching badges together.

Hasenhuttl, who is rumoured to have turned down Bayer Leverkusen this season, has waited patiently for his next job after leaving Leipzig in the summer following a contract dispute.

The departure of Hughes was no surprise as the Welshman had been 1-8 to be the next Premier League manager to leave his position, following Slavisa Jokanovic in picking up his P45.

Sky Bet rate Manchester United’s under-fire Jose Mourinho as the 2-1 favourite to be the next top-flight boss to depart. Wolves coach Nuno follows Mourinho at 9-2.

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