Southampton manager Russell Martin is certainly winning plenty of plaudits for his efforts with the club this season.
Martin left his role at Swansea in the summer to take over at St Mary’s. The 38-year-old has since made a major impact for the Saints.
The club are currently on a record 24-game unbeaten run in all competitions. That puts Southampton second in the Championship, well in contention for an immediate promotion back to the Premier League.
Now, that success that Martin has brought to the club, has seen him touted for a big role in the top-flight of English football.
Russell Martin an ‘outside shout’ for Liverpool job
One club who will definitely be looking for a new manager in the near future is Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp has recently announced that he is set to leave the club at the end of this season.
That will bring an end to an eight-and-a-half-year spell in charge at Anfield for the German, which has seen him bring multiple trophies to the club.
While Klopp still has a few months in the role, some focus is already starting to turn towards his potential replacement.
It has now been suggested by outspoken Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony that Southampton manager Martin, could be an option for Liverpool.
Speaking on his Hard Truth podcast, MacAnthony, who is a Liverpool fan, admitted his preferred choice for the role is the Reds’ former midfielder, Xabi Alonso.
He did however, also suggest Martin as a possible option, saying:
“An outside shout would be I think somebody who’s going to manage anyway, at the top, and they wouldn’t get a chance now, they would have to prove it, but would be Russell Martin.
“I think when he takes Southampton up, and he finishes top half, with his style of play, I think bigger clubs will come in and take him.”
Martin signed a three-year contract with Southampton when he took over at St Mary’s in the summer. That secures his future with the club until the end of the 2025/26 season.
As a result, Southampton would be in a strong position to respond if Liverpool made an approach for Martin in the near future.
Liverpool suggestions will be a concern for Southampton
It is hard not to feel as though this suggestion from MacAnthony would be a worry for Southampton followers.
Martin has done an excellent job since taking over the Saints. He has got them playing high quality football, while delivering excellent results at the same time.
As a result, it is unlikely that anyone connected to the club will want to lose him anytime soon.
That could be a situation that is hard to avoid though, if Liverpool do come calling. The chance to manage a club of that size, and compete for trophies on a regular basis, is something few managers would turn down.
Consequently, there may now be one or two nerves around Southampton after these comments, even if Martin is not the obvious candidate.