Exclusive: Sheffield Wednesday prediction issued amid "fascinating" Danny Rohl, Southampton talk | OneFootball

Rohl appears to be Southampton's number one choice to replace Ivan Juric next season, but Dejphon Chansiri is likely to hold firm

All the signs are pointing towards Southampton being a Championship club next season - but will Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl be their head coach in 2025-26?

With just nine points from 28 games played, the Saints' return to the top flight of English football has been a disaster, with both Russell Martin and Ivan Juric failing to get a tune out of the squad.

Relegation to the second tier is almost a certainty now, and with Juric set to depart at the end of the campaign, The Sun have recently reported that Southampton's hierarchy are plotting a return for former assistant Rohl.

The Saints believe that they would be able to pay less than the current £4 million compensation figure for the German coach, with that fee reduced if they are a Championship club, and it now remains to be seen if he can be tempted to make the move away from the Owls.

Sheffield Wednesday predicted to fight grimly for Danny Rohl's services amid Southampton interest

The likelihood is the closer we get to the end of the 2024-25 season, the talk of Rohl's future will get even louder.

And speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports presenter David Prutton - who played for both Wednesday and the Saints in his on-field career - believes that Rohl would be a 'fascinating' appointment at St Mary's Stadium if he were to return to the south coast outfit, but that it won't be easy to prise him from Hillsborough

"Danny Rohl linked with Southampton, and as I've said before with this, it would be a Sheffield Wednesday fans worst nightmare...that's way too dramatic, but they'd be gutted if Danny chose to move on, even though Danny and his history with Southampton is there," Prutton told FLW.

"I think you watch him week in, week out in the Championship with a Wednesday side that over the course of his months in charge have got steadily better, there's no denying that.

"They were in trouble when he took over, they started this season sluggishly and they've moved through the gears, and he still wants something to fight for on the last day of the season with regards to their potential participation in the play-offs - time will tell with that as we've still got a fair portion of games to run.

"But Southampton, and what we've seen of them in the Premier League, coming down from the top tier with what looks like to be a whimper, the energy, the intensity that Danny Rohl could bring to that side, the ability to bond with those players that will be very much licking their wounds after a chastening spell in the Premier League would be one of the first ports of call that he would need to address.

"I think it would be a fascinating match-up, but once again, I do stress that you get the feeling Sheffield Wednesday would quite rightly fight tooth and nail to keep Danny in their ranks."

Dejphon Chansiri may not be able to keep hold of Danny Rohl at Sheffield Wednesday for much longer

Sheffield Wednesday owner Dajphon Chansiri has caused quite a stir with the club over ticket prices

The relationship between Rohl and Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri has been tumultuous to say the very least, with the Thai businessman's January comments over transfers seemingly further straining their relationship.

Realistically, when it comes to the end of the season, both Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton will be in the Championship, but only one of those two clubs will have a budget geared up for promotion.

Therefore, Rohl will almost surely be considering a move to a divisional rival, where he will have a squad already ready-made for an immediate Premier League return - it's unlikely to be ripped apart either due to their poor performances in 2024-25.