Stories are emerging in Yorkshire that Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa could be a surprise appointment to replace Mark Hughes should Saints lose to Watford today.
The news in several areas of the media seems to be coming from ex Saints player David Prutton who has spoken of the situation to the media.
Prutton says that if Hughes gets the chop, Saints will have Bielsa on their shortlist.
"I think if you are struggling a Premier League side that wants four to five months of head down and over the line to maintain your Premier League status then what they’ve seen from Bielsa would make him a cracking shout," Prutton exclusively told Express Sport.
"When you look at top-flight teams that make changes at critical times of the season, not many of them make the switch and then go: ‘brilliant, we’re going to be alright now’.
"Usually it’s the same old faces or someone we’ve never heard of.
"What you’ve got with Bielsa - and the reason Leeds fans got so excited about him - is he’s such a big name.
"But secondly you get - and I mean this to the greatest respect of other Leeds managers who’ve come through the door - not many of them have been lauded by Diego Simeone, Mauricio Pochettino and Pep Guardiola because of where they’ve come from.
"Southampton are a team that’s not just treading water but are dipping below the surface.
"I think because of the short term impact of what Bielsa has been known for in his recent posts, he’s absolutely perfect for a Premier League side that needs to get safe.
"For Leeds fans - and Sky’s Championship coverage - I sincerely hope it won’t happen because what I’ve seen him do and what he’s brought to the league is superb.
"But I think if you are one of those Premier League sides who aren’t too sure about your manager, then you start mentioning Bielsa’s name extremely loudly come Christmas.”
Prutton who played for Leeds after leaving Saints and also Sheffield Wednesday in Yorkshire has strong connections still with both Saints and Leeds although I would doubt that he is speaking with any real evidence that Saints are going to go for Bielsa or even if he would be interested in the job.
However it is an interesting link and Bielsa with extensive experience both as an international manager and at club level in Europe would fit the Saints model more than perhaps Mark Hughes.
Hughes job will be less secure after the departure of Les Reed, whilst Reed was still in the job, he would have had to back Hughes as to sack him would have been an admission of his own failings meaning the departure of three managers in a little under 18 months, but now having gone himself and the club clearly trying to show it's supporters that they are not sitting back and hoping the current situation heals itself have no such loyalty, Reed going shows that the hierarchy were not happy with him and that would suggest not happy with Hughes either.