Jurgen Klinsmann set for stunning Premier League return as he becomes favourite for the Southampton manager job
Germany legend is five years into reign as America boss but has leapfrogged Manuel Pellegrini as top St Mary's choice
JURGEN KLINSMANN is the shock favourite to be the next Southampton boss.
The current America manager saw his team dumped out of the Copa America thanks in part to an inch-perfect Lionel Messi free-kick earlier this week.
But a raft of bets overnight on the 1990 World Cup winner have him installed as 1-3 favourite to succeed Ronald Koeman after being a whopping 40-1.
That means Klinsmann, five years into his Team USA reign, has leapfrogged ex-Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who is 7-4, and could be on the verge of a stunning Premier League return.
Former Nice manager Claude Puel remains in the frame to replace Koeman, who recently completed his move to Everton, at 5-1.
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Bookies Betway have ex-Roma chief Rudi Garcia as fourth in line to the hotseat on 11-1 followed by three others on 12-1, including Frank de Boer.
But it is former Tottenham striker Klinsmann who leads the way.
He has been touted as a future England manager and guided Germany to third place in the 2006 World Cup.
The ex-Inter, Monaco and Stuttgart hitman spent a season at the helm of Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich before taking the America gig in 2011.
Klinsmann had appeared content in the US job but cracks appeared in the wake of the 4-0 Copa semi-final hammering to Argentina.
America failed to muster a single shot on or off target and skipper Michael Bradley openly disagreed with Klinsmann's opinion that his team showed Messi and Co "too much respect".
The Saints will look to sign a new boss before pre-season starts after Koeman was confirmed as Goodison manager earlier this month.