Manager Southampton wanted before Ivan Juric now set to move elsewhere as club pay £2.5m fee Saints baulked at

Southampton announced Ivan Juric as a replacement for Russell Martin on Saturday – but they wanted Carlos Corberan first.

The Croatian has signed an 18-month contract at the St Mary’s Stadium as he prepares to take on the gargantuan task of keeping Southampton in the Premier League.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
17	LeicesterLeicester	17	3	5	9	21	37	-16	14
18	WolvesWolves	17	3	3	11	27	40	-13	12
19	IpswichIpswich	17	2	6	9	16	32	-16	12
20	SouthamptonSouthampton	17	1	3	13	11	36	-25	6

Despite an impressive CV from the man born in Split, which includes a very strong stint at Torino, he was not Southampton’s first choice, and that particular manager – Carlos Corberan – has now moved elsewhere after Valencia did what the Saints were unwilliꩵng to do.

Valencia hire Carlos Corberan – who was willing to join Southampton

TBR Football‘s chief correspondent Graeme Bailey has now shared details on how close the 41🦋-year-old came to joining Southampton before Juric was appointed instead.

Sources state that initial talks between Southampton and Corberan went well as the Saints searched for Martin’s replacement, and the Span𝓀iard himself was ready to fill the vacancy.

However, TBR Football understand Southampton – who also considered Danny Rohl – baulked at the £2.5m compensation fee needed to hire the man born in Cheste, and never returned to the negotiating table t▨o resume talks with West Brom.

Corberan has now agreed to take charge of Valencia after the Spanish giants sacked Ruben Baraja, following a run of two wins in 17 La Liga outi𝔍ngs this term to leave them 19th.

Juric – who Jamie Carragher criticised – was in the stands to watch Sunday’s stalemate at Fulham, but is expected to be on the touchline against Wes♕t Ham on Boxing Day.

How much Premier League survival for Southampton would compare to that £2.5m fee

£2.5m is not a huge amount of money 🐎for a Premier League club in the modern era.

Las✨t season, Nottingham Forest received £12.5m for finishing 17th – while Premier League clubs also receive £31m each from broadcasters.

Therefore, Corberan would have paid his £2.5m fee back and more had he managed to keep Southampton in t𒅌he Premier League – although Ju🌳ric now has that task on his hands instead.