Southampton are reportedly eyeing former Swansea City manager Steve Cooper as a replacement for current boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, should the position become vacant.
Cooper has been out of work since leaving the Swans earlier this summer, after he and the club mutually agreed to part ways 12 months before his deal expired.
According to The Sun, he has been identified as a potential replacement for Hasenhuttl at St Mary's, should the Austrian leave or be sacked.
After losing in the Championship playoff final with Swansea back in May, Cooper upset the club hierarchy by openly seeking interest in his services from Premier League clubs, before it was agreed that a fresh start was best for both parties.
The likes of Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion were reportedly interested in appointing the former England Under-17s boss in the summer, before moving for Patrick Vieira and Valerien Ismael respectively.
As for Hasenhuttl, he has endured a mixed time in charge at Southampton since arriving in December 2018.
The former RB Leipzig boss has earned praise for his side's style of play during his spell, but has also been on the wrong end of a couple of record-breaking 9-0 hammerings in that time.
After drawing 0-0 at home to West Ham United on Saturday, Southampton are winless in the Premier League so far this season, with questions expected to be raised of Hasenhuttl's position should that poor form continue. body check tags ::
