According to a report in The Independent, Alan Leighton is flying back from a business trip to Canada in the next 24 hours before making a formal approach.
Leighton and his chief executive, Trevor Birch, are due to meet to plan their move, with the knowledge that Strachan has just over six months left on his contract and could be tempted to move back.
The report also states that The Saints chairman, Rupert Lowe, will allow Strachan to move if the terms are right, with the final settlement figure as much as £500k.
Strachan is believed to be unaware of any interest, but he has had talks with Lowe and knows that money will talk as far as the Southampton chairman is concerned.
Lowe sees compensation for Strachan as a bonus as his manager could quit for nothing in the summer. He could put the cash to finding a replacement immediately.
However it seems certain that caretaker manager, Eddie Gray, will be in charge for the match with fellow relegation contenders Bolton on Saturday, probably his only game in control. Gray is likely to stay as part of Strachan's backroom team.