Southampton: Ex-Saints manager 'unlikely' to replace Hasenhuttl at St Mary's

Southampton are unlikely to appoint Mauricio Pochettino if boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is sacked as there is ‘too much baggage’ at St Mary’s, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Hasenhuttl has been in the hot seat since December 2018, but there are question marks over his Saints future.

According to The Telegraph, Hasenhuttl’s time at the Southampton helm is coming to a close and the hierarchy are now considering the timing of his sacking.

The report suggests the Austrian has been under pressure for some time and Sport Republic, who completed a takeover in January, are preparing to make a change.

It is understood that Pochettino is plotting a return to the Premier League and is open to the possibility of managing a side outside of the Champions League.

The 50-year-old was axed by French giants Paris Saint-Germain in the summer and turned down the opportunity to return to Ligue 1 after snubbing an approach made by Nice last month.

Pochettino has been sounded out by Aston Villa in recent days, while he was also linked with the Chelsea job before the west Londoners appointed Graham Potter instead.

Jones believes it is unlikely that Pochettino will head back to the English top flight by sealing a return to Southampton.

The journalist feels Saints will not meet the ambitions or profile the Argentinian is looking for, meaning the south coast club will have to look elsewhere after Hasenhuttl is shown the door.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “I don’t think there’s much chance of it happening. It’s not something I can see him turning to when he does come back to the Premier League.

“Just thinking about what I’ve been told before on Pochettino, he wants to find a stable club, but one that has fresh possibilities and an open mind. With Saints,