Manuel Pellegrini is a very live contender for the vacant Saints manager post.

The Daily Echo understands that the Chilean, who is out of work after leaving Manchester City in the summer, is being interviewed for the Saints job and wants to impress.

Pellegrini is reported to be keen to remain in England, and a move to St Mary’s would apparently appeal to the 62-year-old.

Saints understandably wish to speak to a manager with a huge reputation in the game who is keen to take the job, and have committed to speaking with Pellegrini to see if his thoughts on the role and the way forward for the club matches their philosophy.

Pellegrini would certainly be an easy sell to Saints fans thanks to his vast experience in the game and his stature as a manager.

His stock rose even further for his spell at City, and, in particular, the dignity which he showed upon being ousted from his role early with Pep Guardiola taking charge at the Etihad for next season.

Pellegrini has enjoyed success as a manager across the world.

He started his career in Chile with Universidad de Chile, the club where he spent his entire playing career, making 451 appearances for them as a defender.

After several further jobs in Chile he took charge of two clubs in Argentina, including River Plate, before moving to Europe to manage Villarreal in 2004.

His time in Europe has continued an upward trajectory in his career.

He guided Villarreal all the way up to second in La Liga and consistently had them in the Champions League, including reaching the semi-final.

His achievements were duly noted by Real Madrid, who made him their boss in 2009.

Madrid were assembling a line-up of Galacticos at the time and Pellegrini brought in Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema among others.

He led Real to 96 points in La Liga, but having not won a trophy he was released after a year.

He then joined Malaga, an unfashionable club without a significant transfer budget, but achieved great success, taking them to fourth and into the Champions League.

In 2013 he moved to Manchester City, winning the Premier League title in his first season and two League Cups over three years at the club.

Pellegrini has won a trophy in every country he has managed and has a record of playing attacking, attractive football, as well as being able to operate successfully with both large and small budgets. He also has a reputation of nurturing and promoting young talent, all which makes him an obvious candidate for Saints.

The club are also considering Claude Puel and Vitor Pereira, among others, but have no interest in Walter Zenga or Carlos Carvalhal, who were heavily linked with the job by national newspapers.