Thomas Tuchel targeted Southampton's Claude Puel replacement

Southampton are targeting former Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel as Claude Puel's replacement according to reports from The Independent.

In addition to Tuchel, former Alaves boss Mauricio Pellegrino and ex-Bayer Leverkusen manager Roger Schmidt are also in the frame, though former Liverpool defender Pellegrino is said to be close to signing with Premier League rivals Crystal Palace after working wonders in Alaves' first season since returning to La Liga.

Tuchel is now left without a club after his exit from Dortmund shortly after his team's success in winning the DFB-Pokal—German Cup to you and me—the club's first silverware won in five years.

The German manager wasn't a roaring success at Dortmund, but his departure was largely due to a behind-the-scenes falling out with the club's hierarchy at the Westfalenstadion.

Despite guiding Saints to an eighth-placed finish in the Premier League, Puel has been under considerable pressure thanks to fan unrest and supposed issues with various senior players at the club.

Saints supremos Les Reed and Ralph Krueger both commented Puel's performance was up for review at the end of the season. According to this report from The Independent, Southampton are now set to sack Puel and both parties are presently negotiating compensation packages for the early severance of the Frenchman's contract—a contract which still has two years remaining.

It's unclear as to whether Tuchel will move to Southampton from a club of Dortmund's stature, but it's always nice to be linked to big names, isn't it?