Southampton set to appoint Ralph Hasenhüttl as their new coach | OneFootball

Former RB Leipzig boss Ralph Hasenhüttl has reportedly agreed to become the new manager of Southampton.

The Saints parted company with Mark Hughes on Monday and Hasenhüttl – who has been out of work since leaving Leipzig in May – immediately emerged as the front-runner for the vacant job.

According to Sky Sports, the Austrian has now agreed to join the club on a three-year contract, and an official announcement is expected soon.

A former journeyman striker for the likes of FC Köln and Bayern Munich II, the 51-year-old began his coaching career with German third division outfit SpVgg Unterhaching in 2007.

Following spells with VfR Aalen and FC Ingolstadt, he was appointed coach of RB Leipzig in 2016, where his high-pressing style of football drew comparisons with Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp.

Under Hasenhüttl, Leipzig qualified for the Champions League during the 2016/17 season but at the end of his second term in charge, he decided to leave by mutual consent and was replaced by sporting director Ralf Rangnick.

Southampton – who are currently 18th in the Premier League – travel to face Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley on Wednesday evening and as things stand, assistant first team coach Kelvin Davis is still expected to take charge of the match.