Mauricio Pellegrino is emerging as favourite for the Southampton job.

The Sun says the Argentinian coach is also wanted by Crystal Palace — but St Mary's sources say they hope to reach a deal as soon as next week for him to replace sacked Claude Puel.

A Southampton insider said: “Mauricio has done an excellent job at Alaves and is very much in the mould of his Argentine countryman Mauricio Pochettino when we recruited him a few years ago, also after doing well in Spain.

“He likes to play good football, is forward thinking and proved he can work on a tight budget. We're hopeful a deal can be finalised soon — even in the next week.

“There are several clubs interested in him but we're hoping we can sell what Southampton has to offer. It didn't do Pochettino too badly."