Jesse Marsch is in pole position to replace Nathan Jones as Southampton manager.
Southampton held talks with Marsch on Monday which left the former Leeds boss on course for what would be a swift return to the Premier League if his appointment is finalised.
Marsch is available after leaving Leeds last week, has top-flight experience and also successfully kept the Yorkshire club up last season, a job he would be tasked with repeating at St Mary's.
Southampton are currently bottom of the Premier League, four points from safety.
Marsch is also considered a good fit for Southampton having been part of the setup at New York Red Bulls and Red Bull Salzburg before following in the footsteps of previous St Mary’s manager Ralph Hasenhüttl at RB Leipzig.