Frank Lampard in charge of Everton
Southampton are on the hunt for a new manager, and Frank Lampard ‘would be open’ to talks, according to transfer reporter Dean Jones.
The Lowdown: Lampard available
Lampard was sacked as manager of Everton at the end of January, however Nathan Jones’ dismissal on Sunday has presented him with the potential opportunity to come straight back into management.
There are plenty of other options being considered, however, with the Saints said to have genuine interest in Steven Gerrard and Dean Smith, so it remains to be seen whether the former Everton boss is targeted.
The Latest: Open to talks
In an interview with GIVEMESPORT, Jones indicated that the Englishman could be interested in the job, despite holding some reservations about it, in light of Southampton’s struggles.
The transfer insider said: “My early tip on the Lampard link is that he would be open to hearing more about it but is slightly sceptical of the idea of jumping from one chaotic relegation-threatened club to another crisis club.
“But, at the end of the day, it’s pretty rare you get to join a well-run club at this stage of the season.
“One of the keys to an appointment could be the type of bonus they are putting on the table here to keep the club up. I get the impression that incentive might be needed for quite a few of the managers currently being mentioned.”
The Verdict: Right call?
The Saints are currently four points from safety in the Premier League, and so it would be a real boost if they were able to appoint a new manager who has experience in this kind of situation.
That would be one major advantage to appointing Lampard, who favours an attacking 4-3-3 formation, as he was able to lead Everton to safety from relegation last season, with the Toffees eventually finishing 16th.
However, the 44-year-old was unable to build on the previous campaign, picking up just three wins in 20 Premier League matches this season, and this very poor recent record indicates that it is probably best if Southampton pursue other options.
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