Saints are expected to move for former RB Leipzig manager Ralph Hasenhuttl as a replacement for Mark Hughes.

The 51-year-old Austrian has been out of work since leaving RB Leipzig at the end of last season and is top of Saints’ hitlist.

Hasenhuttl, nicknamed ‘Alpen Klopp’, or ‘Klopp of the Alps’, for a similar style of play to Jurgen Klopp, could be in place by the time Saints face Cardiff on Saturday if all goes well.

The former Austrian international striker managed several clubs in the lower levels of German football, taking FC Ingolstadt to the Bundesliga and keeping them up, before getting his chance at Leipzig.

Hasenhuttl did have considerable resources to call upon at the Red Bull backed club, but still stunned the footballing world by taking the team to a second placed finish in the Bundesliga. Hasenhuttl left after finishing sixth last season.

His teams are known for an energetic, attacking, high pressing style of play.

There is a clear link between the two clubs with Saints’ former recruitment chief, Paul Mitchell, working at Leipzig.