• Frenchman led Saints to eighth in Premier League and final of EFL Cup • Borussia Dortmund’s Thomas Tuchel among those linked with vacancy

Claude Puel has been sacked by Southampton after one season in charge. The 55-year-old’s position had been the source of speculation and rumour for some time with a section of Saints supporters displeased with their team’s style of play and results under the Frenchman.

Thomas Tuchel, the former Borussia Dortmund manager, has been linked with taking over at St Mary’s. The former Alavés manager Mauricio Pellegrino and Reading’s Jaap Stam could also be contenders. Whoever does so will be the club’s fourth manager in a little over four years, following on from Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman.

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A club statement said: “Everyone at Southampton would like to express our thanks to Claude for his hard work and commitment this year. The highlight of the season was a memorable day at Wembley in the EFL Cup final, a day our fans will always treasure.

“We wish Claude well for the future. The search for a new management team is underway. We are confident we will find the right fit in line with the long term vision of the club.”

Having arrived last June as the successor to Koeman following the Dutchman’s departure to Everton, Puel led Southampton to eighth in the Premier League and to the final of the EFL Cup, where they were somewhat unlucky to lose 3-2 to Manchester United.

Despite the positivity around Southampton’s Wembley appearance in February, they lost 16 league games to slip down the table after Koeman had delivered sixth place before moving to Goodison Park.

Saints also suffered early exits from the FA Cup and the Europa League. Come the final game of the season, a 1-0 home defeat to Stoke, fans appeared to have turned against Puel, chanting “You don’t know what you’re doing” and booing the manager.

Rumours of player unrest have continued into the summer and, on the day which saw the 2017-18 fixtures released, Puel has departed just 12 months into a two-year contract. Southampton start the season at home to Swansea on 12 August.