Southampton were keen on appointing Torino boss Ivan Juric before Nathan Jones arrived, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Jones under-fire...

Jones was appointed in early November to succeed long-serving former head coach Ralph Hasenhuttl but their Premier League form hasn't exactly turned a corner.

The Welshman has guided his side to just one league win since he was hired from Luton Town with Southampton supporters quickly losing their patience.

Reports have also suggested that Jones is losing players in the St. Mary's dressing room, but according to a fresh claim, things could've been totally different.

The Latest: Southampton wanted Juric...

According to Firenze Viola.net, in late Autumn last year, Southampton were keen on a move for Juric, with the Serie A coach also attracting interest from Nottingham Forest, Wolfsburg and 'beyond'.

However, the tactician said 'no' as he wished to stay with his current side.

The Verdict: Missed out?

The £2 million-per-year boss might have turned out to be shrewd appointment by Sport Republic at Southampton.

Juric is currently getting his team to perform at their highest level since he took over with this report claiming Torino have never been higher in the standings under his tutelage.

The Turin side are currently seventh place and somewhat in contention for a European-qualifying spot with eight points currently separating them and league champions AC Milan in sixth.

Juric seems to be seriously impressing for his club, and going by Torino's form, it appears his decision to remain loyal to their cause has paid dividends.

Meanwhile, at Southampton, Jones was recently the author of a bizarre rant comparing himself to the best coaches in Europe, with scrutiny continuing to surround his position.