Former Ajax boss Frank de Boer is reportedly the leading candidate to take over from Ronald Koeman as Southampton manager.

The 46-year-old was initially linked to the vacancy at Everton, but it is believed that Koeman is on the verge of moving to Goodison Park on a three-year deal.

De Boer is a free agent after calling an end to a five-and-a-half-year spell in Amsterdam, where he won four Eredivisie titles in consecutive years.

According to The Mirror, the Dutchman could be the man to take charge at St Mary's this summer after the club learned that Eddie Howe intends to stay at Bournemouth and Sevilla boss Unai Emery is in talks with Paris Saint-Germain.

De Boer came close to joining the Premier League after having talks with Tottenham in 2014, but the North London outfit opted to hire Mauricio Pochettino.