"?Frank de Boer is being touted as Southampton's number one target to replace compatriot Ronald Koeman as manager, according to the "?Daily Mirror.
Koeman is set to depart St.Mary's and join Everton in the next few days after the two clubs came to an agreement over a £5m compensation package on Tuesday evening.
And ex-Ajax head coach de Boer is said to be the man that Southampton want to replace the outgoing 53-year-old in the Saints' managerial hot-seat.
The former Ajax, Barcelona and Rangers defender had thrown his hat in to the ring to take over at Everton following the sacking of Roberto Martinez last month.
Koeman, though, was always Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri's first choice for the role on Merseyside, leaving de Boer without a club.
Southampton had also been considering the possibility of appointing Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe or Sevilla head coach Unai Emery.
However, Howe recently revealed that he is content in his role at the Cherries, while 44-year-old Emery looks set to become the new man in charge of Ligue 1 champions Paris-Saint Germain - moves that will pave the way for de Boer to take charge on the South coast.
A former Netherlands international, De Boer managed Ajax for six seasons before resigning from his position at the end of last term.
The 46-year-old won four consecutive Eredivisie titles in his first four seasons in charge of the Dutch giants, as well as the Dutch Super Cup in 2013/14.
The 33-time Dutch league champions, however, have lost out on the title to PSV Eindhoven in the past two domestic campaigns, and failed to make notable in-roads in the UEFA Champions League under De Boer's tutelage.
Since becoming a manager, the Dutchman has registered 295 wins, 114 draws and 84 defeats from 493 matches.
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