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Southampton’s German managerial target chooses next club

By Chris Hughes

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Roger Schmidt head coach of Bayer Leverkusen speaks to the media during the Press Conference ahead of their UEFA Champions League match against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium on November 1, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Roger Schmidt head coach of Bayer Leverkusen speaks to the media during the Press Conference ahead of their UEFA Champions League match against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium on November 1, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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With Southampton failing to make their move with Claude Puel, another one of their unemployed managerial targets has found his next job.

With rumours surrounding a potential takeover gathering some serious pace in recent weeks, it seems like the future of Claude Puel has been put on hold, and as a result several managers linked with the Saints have found other employment.

Gary Monk, whilst not everyone’s first choice target, will seemingly now take over as manager of Middlesbrough but more importantly Roger Schmidt will now take charge of a Chinese team.

Whilst no official confirmation has been made, various reports have suggested that the German will take charge of Beijing Guoan.

The 50-year-old was sacked by Bayer Leverkusen in March and the side have gone on to finish 12th, but despite this Schmidt is rated highly due to his preference for youth and attractive style of football.

MONACO – SEPTEMBER 27: Bayer 04 Leverkusen head coach Roger Schmidt looks on during the UEFA Champions League Group E match between AS Monaco FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Louis II Stadium on September 27, 2016 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
MONACO – SEPTEMBER 27: Bayer 04 Leverkusen head coach Roger Schmidt looks on during the UEFA Champions League Group E match between AS Monaco FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Louis II Stadium on September 27, 2016 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) /

With Schmidt being out of a job he seemed like a great replacement for Claude Puel if the latter was sacked, but now it seems like the side will have to put all their eggs in one basket with Thomas Tuchel. The German recently left his role with Dortmund but his chances of joining the Saints seem more and more realistic as each day passes.

However without Schmidt as a fall-back option Southampton are running out of potential candidates if they do sack their Frenchman, with the former Leverkusen manager set to take up his new role in July.

Beijing Guoan are currently seventh in the Chinese Super League table with four wins from their first 12 games – among their ranks are Jonathon Soriano and former Bayer player Renato Augusto.

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