Managerless Southampton are sifting through a list of high-quality candidates eager to join the Premier League club, according to chairman Ralph Krueger.

After Argentine Mauricio Pochettino quit the Saints on Tuesday to join top-flight rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Krueger says the club is poised to act “very swiftly” in appointing a successor.

“Les Reed (the club’s football director) is inundated at the moment with requests from high-quality managers all over Europe trying to come to Southampton,” he told Sky Sports News.

“We are building a long list which should quickly become a short list. Any club that is well-constructed and well-organised is permanently tracking potential managers for a situation such as this.”

Former FC Basel boss Murat Yakin is the bookmakers’ early favourite.

Krueger would not speculate, but did say the club was open to another non-English manager. “Being Swiss or German or from England is not relevant, we do not have an official list, but are going to move very swiftly – it does not matter what language, or what background – we are looking for a manager to fit Southampton FC now.

“We are optimistic and we are certain that the foundation remains intact here. Southampton is in a strong position and we will continue to move forward.”

Saints finished the season in eighth spot, equalling their best finish with a record points haul.

While Pochettino’s exit has been expected in some quarters to herald an exodus of its leading players, Krueger said there are no offers on the table for England World Cup players Adam Lallana or Luke Shaw.

Saints captain Lallana is reported to be a £20million-plus target for Liverpool, while Manchester United are said to be tracking left-back Shaw, with a price tag of £25 million reported in local media.

“Under the circumstances we wanted to wait to clarify the manager’s situation to move forward. There are no deals done,” Krueger said.