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Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino is facing the sack at the end of the season even if he leads the south coast side to Premier League survival.

The Saints board have already started drawing up a short-list of potential replacements for Pellegrino – who has won just five of his 29 league games in charge.

Fulham’s Slavisa Jokanovic and Ostersund chief Graham Potter are among those on the radar.

Pellegrino has fallen way short of the target he was set when he replaced Claude Puel last summer, which was to challenge for a European place via the league.

(Image: Paul Burgman) (Image: REUTERS)

The Argentine could become the second Saints boss in as many seasons to lose his job despite leading them to Wembley.

Saints, who under Puel reached the EFL Cup final, face League One high-fliers Wigan in the FA Cup quarter finals later this month.

Many Southampton fans want Pellegrino fired immediately but vice-chairman of football Les Reed is reluctant to make a change before the summer and risk a panic appointment.