Southampton are courting Carlos Corberan as they seek to conclude their search for a successor to Russell Martin, but prizing the Spaniard away from West Bromwich Albion may prove difficult.
That's due to Corberan's substantial release clause alongside the natural questions pertaining to the career move, which have both been detailed as potential problems in Southampton's pursuit of the highly-rated Baggies boss in a recent report by Sky Sports' Rob Dorsett.
Southampton are evidently keen to appoint a replacement for Martin rather swiftly following the dismissal of the former Swansea City figure in the immediate aftermath of Sunday's chastening 5-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, which left them nine points shy of safety after just 16 matches.
Carlos Corberan and Shilen Patel of West Bromwich Albion Related
Constant Carlos Corberan talk is hurting West Brom
Numerous links between the Spaniard and Premier League vacancies are hardly ideal for Albion
Corberan is among the club's targets to assume the vacancy, although the process for appointing him could be "problematic".
Update emerges on Carlos Corberan, Southampton talk following Russell Martin exit
The aforementioned report has cited potential difficulties in getting Corberan to take over the Saints. It's said that West Brom have a release clause built into Corberan's contract, which is worth in excess of £2 million.
Importantly, the report also adds that the 41-year-old would need to be convinced it's the best career move for him to take, given that Southampton's season already appears to be over.
carlos-corberan
Their odds of securing survival are awfully slim and they find themselves very much cut adrift at the bottom of the table, meaning the new boss - be it Corberan or someone else - would likely be planning for the Championship next term.
Corberan is going to be left with a difficult decision to make either way, as he would be trading a side placed just two points off the Championship's final top-six spot and with a fair chance at securing a second successive play-off finish, for one nine points away from safety and with an all-but-sealed fate in the relegation battle.
EFL Championship standings, as of December 18
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There have been contrasting reports surrounding Corberan's immediate future at the Hawthorns. It was reported by Football Insider on Monday that Corberan, who has been described as their "number one target", was "ready to quit" the club and join Southampton, although it doesn't feel as though a move is quite so imminent just yet.
However, Sky Sports' report has also revealed that Southampton would like to have a new head coach in place for Sunday's match against Fulham. If Corberan is indeed their first-choice candidate to take over from Martin, it'll be interesting to see if their pursuits are amplified in the coming days.
West Brom will be hoping Southampton look away from Carlos Corberan in Russell Martin replacement hunt
The Baggies will certainly not want to lose Corberan, who is widely regarded among the finest managers outside of the Premier League and has built a real project at the club in recent times.
With that in mind, they'll surely be hoping Southampton look in a different direction and act upon their interest in ex-Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand, who is also under consideration alongside "at least one other" foreign manager as per the report.
kasper hjulmand
Unlike Corberan, Hjulmand is currently unattached after leaving his post in charge of Denmark following EURO 2024, although he's unproven in both English football and the Championship.
Considering Corberan's credentials, and the likelihood of Southampton making a swift return to the second-tier, it would come as no surprise to see them favour the Baggies boss, although Albion will hope that's not the case.