Claude Puel faces the sack after a day of turmoil for Southampton

SOUTHAMPTON face another summer of upheaval after a day of turmoil at St Mary’s ended with Claude Puel facing the sack.

Posted Wednesday, June 07, 2017 by Dailystar.co.uk

Claude Puel faces the sack after a day of turmoil for Southampton
Southampton boss Claude Puel faces the sack

Saints have decided to axe the Frenchman after just a year in charge and he is currently negotiating a pay-off on a contract which had two years to run.

But that was just the culmination of a disruptive day for the Saints which began with them accusing Liverpool of tapping up star defender Virgil van Dijk.

Saints have reported the Reds over their pursuit of £60m-rated captain Van Dijk and are furious that his head may have been turned.

They believe Liverpool have made an illegal approach for the 25-year-old and have made a formal complaint to the Premier League.

If found guilty the Merseysiders - who have already signed five Saints players in recent years - could be hit with a hefty fine.

Vice-chairman of football Les Reed headed an emergency meeting yesterday where Saints decided to make their allegations formal before sealing Puel’s fate.

A St Mary’s source said: “Nobody has made contact with the club about Virgil and we would not welcome any such approach.

"The reports he has agreed to join Liverpool are very alarming and believe they constitute an illegal approach.

"We have made contact with the Premier League and await their findings.”

The future of Ryan Bertrand was also on the agenda at the meeting, with the England full-back in Manchester City’s sights.

Pep Guardiola’s men are closing in on a £35m swoop for Bertrand after switching their attention for Monaco’s Benjamin Mendy.

Bertrand is keen to force through a move to the Etihad and was one of several senior players unhappy with Puel’s training methods and negative tactics.

Club bosses have now decided enough is enough and are targeting former Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel and ex-Bayer Leverkusen manager Roger Schmidt as potential replacements.

Reed was hoping Puel would save the club from forking out an expensive severance package by returning to his homeland with St Etienne.

But after holding talks with the Ligue 1 side, Puel decided he was not interested in the job, forcing the club to act.

Saints have endured miserable summers for the past three years, losing several of their biggest stars as well as seeing bosses Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman quit.