SAINTS are expected to announce Claude Puel as the club's new manager today, the Daily Echo understands.

The meticulous search for a new boss has run on for more than three weeks, with many high profile candidates picked up on Saints' radar, including former Manchester City head Manuel Pellegrini.

But it is the former Nice, Lyon, Lille and Monaco manager who the Saints board feel is best suited to the demands the St Mary's job brings, with his commitment to youth football and attacking style of play notable attributes the club's hierarchy were impressed by.

Daily Echo:

Now Saints hope Puel can be announced as Ronald Koeman's replacement today, so he can begin work as Saints' 20th manager during the 24-year Premier League era.

The Frenchman should be in place for the start of pre-season training tomorrow, when the likes of James Ward-Prowse, Jay Rodriguez, Charlie Austin and Oriol Romeu will attend his first session at Staplewood.

Those players that are still, or have been, on duty with their countries at Euro 2016 will return to the Saints fold for their trip to Holland on July 22.

For Puel, who at Monaco won the French league as boss and made nearly 500 appearances for during a one-club playing career, this is his first job in English football.

That is scarcely a rarity at Saints these days however, with both Koeman and his predecessor Mauricio Pochettino being brought to Saints for their maiden jobs in England.

Puel has a close ally in Arsenal's Arsene Wenger, for whom he worked closely with at Monaco as a player and coach, and he will likely call upon him as he settles in at St Mary's.

The 54-year-old ticked many boxes for Saints during an extensive hiring process.

His experience in European football is a major plus for Saints as they head into the Europa League group stages next term.

Supporters' favourite Pellegrini and former Roma and Lille boss Rudi Garcia were considered by Saints, but neither of them represented an ideal fit - while Vitor Pereira of Fenerbahce was also ruled out.

AFC Bournemouth's Eddie Howe was another that Saints looked at but decided against.

After initial training sessions at Staplewood, Puel will take Saints to a pre-season training camp in America for a week from July 11.

It will be during the Baltimore excursion that Puel will take charge of his first match in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Friday July, 15.

Following their return from the USA, Puel will have the opportunity to bring the entire Saints squad together for the trip to Holland to face Eredivisie sides PEC Zwolle, FC Twente and FC Groningen.

It will be on Holland trip that Puel will get to fully establish where his team will need improvements.

St Mary's then get their first taste of what they can expect from the new man's team on Sunday, 7 August with a friendly against Athletic Bilbao.