Southampton transfer news: Saints appoint Jones as Hasenhüttl successor

Sportem
Sportem
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From Luton to Premier League 

 

This article was initially published on November 7 but has since been updated with new information. 

Southampton have confirmed Nathan Jones as the club’s new first team manager after the former Luton Town boss agreed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Premier League side. The 49-year-old coach takes over the reins at St Mary’s less than a week after the club sacked Ralph Hasenhüttl. 

“I’m really proud to be given this opportunity. I know a lot about the club from back in the days of The Dell, to coming here to St Mary’s, and it’s a wonderful football club,” said Jones in a statement on the Southampton website. “A lot of my family are Southampton fans, which doesn’t half help, and I feel really, really proud to be given the opportunity, and I’m really looking forward to getting started.” 

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Foden, Saka & Co. – The most valuable players in the Premier League

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30 Marcus Rashford | Manchester United | New market value: €55m (-€5m)

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29 Andrew Robertson | Liverpool | New market value: €55m (-€10m)

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28 Bruno Guimarães | Newcastle | New market value: €60m (+€10m)

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27 Martin Ødegaard | Arsenal | New market value: €60m (+€10m)

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26 Jadon Sancho | Manchester United | New market value: €60m (-€15m)

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25 Gabriel Martinelli | Arsenal | New market value: €60m (+€20m)

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24 Wesley Fofana | Chelsea | Market value: €65m

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23 Heung-min Son | Tottenham | New market value: €70m (-€5m)

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22 João Cancelo | Manchester City | New market value: €70m (+€5m)

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21 Jack Grealish | Manchester City | Market value: €70m

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20 Raheem Sterling | Chelsea | Market value: €70m

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19 Trent Alexander-Arnold | Liverpool | New market value: €70m (-€10m)

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18 Kai Havertz | Chelsea | Market value: €70m

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17 Darwin Núñez | Liverpool | Market value: €70m

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16 Reece James | Chelsea | New market value: €70m (+€10m)

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15 Bruno Fernandes | Mancherster United | New market value: €75m (-€10m)

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14 Rúben Dias | Manchester City | Market value: €75m

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13 Luis Díaz | Liverpool | Market value: €75m

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12 Gabriel Jesus | Arsenal | New market value: €75M (+€10M)

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11 Mason Mount | Chelsea | Market value: €75m

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10 Antony | Mancherster United | Market value: €75m

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9 Kevin de Bruyne | Manchester City | New market value: €80m (-€5m)

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8 Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | New market value: €80m (-€10m)

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7 Bernardo Silva | Manchester City | Market value: €80m

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6 Rodri | Manchester City | Market value: €80m

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5 Declan Rice | West Ham | Market value: €80m

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4 Harry Kane | Tottenham | Market value: €90m

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3 Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | New market value: €90M (+€20M)

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2 Phil Foden | Manchester City | New market value: €110m (+€20m)

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1 Erling Haaland | Manchester City | New market value: €170m (+€20m)

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He added: “Obviously, I wanted to manage in the Premier League, I’ve dreamt of that since I’ve become a coach or a manager, but this club in particular – because of how it’s run, because of the structure, because of how they look deeper than just results – really appeals to me.”

Jones’ enthusiasm will be welcomed by fans of the club, who have had to endure a difficult start to the season under the previous head coach. Despite Hasenhüttl’s best attempts to keep the club in the English top-flight, Southampton have struggled this time around and have picked up just 12 points from their first 14 games and sit dangerously close to relegation. 

However, Jones’ desire to coach in the league may yet play a deciding factor in turning the club’s form around. “Obviously, I wanted to manage in the Premier League, I’ve dreamt of that since I’ve become a coach or a manager,” said the new Saints boss. “But this club in particular – because of how it’s run, because of the structure, because of how they look deeper than just results – really appeals to me.”

Stuck in a tricky situation – why things didn’t work out for Hasenhüttl

Although Hasenhüttl departs the Saints with a distinctly average record of just 1.26 points per game, the former Bundesliga tactician has had to oversee a huge turnover of players at the club each season and was considered to have one of the trickiest jobs in the Premier League over the past few season. 

For example, since taking over at the club, Hasenhüttl had to contend with losing star players each season to bigger clubs in the Premier League. In the 2020/21 season, Tottenham Hotspur swooped for Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg, while their north London rivals Arsenal picked up Cédric Soares. And in the following season, the club lost Danny Ings and Jannik Vestergaard to league rivals with deeper pockets. 

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Such was the extent of Southampton’s inability to hold on to key, senior players that the club seemingly changed direction entirely this season by opting for much younger players in the summer window, spending around €71 million on young talents like Gavin Bazunu, Sékou Mara, Roméo Lavia and Armel Bella-Kotchap. Now it will be up to Jones to make the most of the squad he’s inherited and steer them clear of relegation. 


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