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The experienced coach has won 173 of his 359 games as a Premier League manager
The Saints, who won promotion via the Championship play-offs last season, are currently bottom of the table and have only achieved one victory all season under the guidance of Russell Martin.
Their record of five points from 15 matches leaves them a distant eight points away from safety - and their defensive record of leaking 31 is the second worst in the division behind only 19th place Wolves.
Football Insider suggests Martin is under increasing pressure to turn results around at St Mary’s Stadium after a lacklustre start but explains that the board are willing to give him a little bit more time to turn things around.
The outlet does however, claim that the Saints board are getting frustrated about Martin’s stubborn nature as a manager and his persistence on playing the ball out from the back, which in turn has led to many avoidable goals going past them this season.
Gambling.com claim Southampton are already making contingency plans for the second half of the season if Martin fails to turn things around quickly and claims that the Saints will look to appoint a more pragmatic coach that is Premier League proven.
They claim that former Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Everton boss Benitez is the type of profile that fits the bill despite the Spaniard playing a very different style of football to that of Martin.
David Moyes, formerly of West Ham, Sunderland and Everton, has also been touted as a potential option along with former Leicester City boss Steve Cooper.
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Benitez, who guided Liverpool to an historic Champions League victory in 2005, has been out of work since leaving Spanish side Celta Vigo in March, but has recently expressed a desire to return to English management in the near future.
Earlier this year, in an interview on The Overlap, Benitez reflected on difficulties at Everton and Celta Vigo, he said: “I want to keep coaching. But I have seen a mistake because I went to another level. The owners, you can’t increase the level if they don’t increase the time. The owners talk, talk, talk but they don’t give you the time because social media is going so fast.”
When asked about his next managerial role, he added: “I’m thinking about the Premier League. I know it’s not easy, but I’ve had offers. I’ve had five or six offers from teams at the bottom of the table.
“I am realistic. I have the passion, knowledge and experience to make a difference. I like to be on the (training) pitch improving players. Anthony Gordon is one of them, for example. Manchester United will not come for me. Chelsea will not come for me. The teams in the middle will start firing managers - I have to make a decision.
“I want to coach in the Premier League. My first aim is the Premier League but, if not, this year I have two offers from Greece, one from Turkey, one from Hungary, two from Mexico, from Qatar, two from Saudi Arabia and a couple of national teams.”
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