Southampton have reportedly been boosted in their pursuit of Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl, as his current club have identified assistant head coach Henrik Pedersen as their preferred replacement.
The Saints have endured a difficult season of Premier League football, with their 2-1 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers on March 15 their 24th in 29 top-flight matches.
Boss Ivan Juric's side are last with just nine points, and the 49-year-old has come under significant scrutiny for his performance as manager.
Amidst speculation that the Saints boss could leave at the end of the season, reports have emerged from journalist Alan Nixon that Sheffield Wednesday have identified current assistant Henrik Pedersen as their ideal candidate to succeed manager Rohl, who is said to be wanted at St Mary's.
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Should Juric be sacked?
Juric took charge of Southampton in December 2024 after signing a contract for 18 months, but the Croatian has experienced defeat in 12 of his 14 games in charge.
The 49-year-old has also lost 11 of his 12 Premier League fixtures, collecting two fewer points than previous boss Russell Martin managed in 16 league matches.
Under the guidance of Juric, the club have scored 10 goals in the top flight and conceded on 34 four occasions, whereas they had scored 11 times and conceded 36 goals under Martin.
The fact there has been no real improvement at either end of the pitch is concerning, and it is difficult to justify keeping Juric for the duration of his contract if an alternative becomes available.
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Is Rohl the right man?
Sheffield Wednesday are currently 12th in the Championship with 51 points but are only six points from sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion, who occupy the division's final promotion playoff spot.
Rohl is just 35 years old, and he became the youngest head coach in the English Football League when he took charge of the Owls in October 2023.
In his first season in charge, the German guided his side to a 20th-placed finish after taking over when the club were last in 24th place.
Rohl's side are on course to accumulate 62 points by the end of this campaign, a figure that would be their second-best tally in their last six seasons in the Championship.
However, appointing the 35-year-old could be risky given Sheffield Wednesday are the only club he has ever managed in his career.
Lewis Nolan
