Roberto De Zerbi has revealed that he has not yet agreed to sign a contract extension with Brighton following negotiations. The Italian is among those shortlisted by the Liverpool as a potential candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp this summer.
De Zerbi has impressed since taking over from Graham Potter at Brighton last season, guiding the club to the Europa League for the first time in the club’s history and showcasing his managerial talent on the biggest of stages.
As a result, the ex-Sassuolo boss has attracted plenty of interest from around Europe. Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Barcelona are among the Italian’s admirers, with Liverpool also holding the 44-year-old in very high regard.
Remaining at Brighton and improving the club further has also been viewed as an option ahead of the summer managerial merry-go-round, though he has now offered his suitors hope that they would be able to lure him away from the Amex Stadium this summer by revealing that contract extension talks with the Seagulls have been unsuccessful.
Speaking ahead of Brighton’s clash with Liverpool on Sunday, De Zerbi was asked whether he could pen a new contract with the club, to which he explained: “At the moment, no. We haven’t found an agreement. I want to know what the plan, project and future is because if I don’t feel comfortable and have the right motivation, I can’t stay any longer. I want to speak with my club.
“I have a contract but the problem is not the contract. The problem is finding the same plan, the same target, the same vision for the future. I have not decided yet what is my future.
“I want to speak with Tony Bloom and my club to understand their plan and then we will take the decision together, without problems.”
Liverpool will be able to take a closer look at De Zerbi’s managerial style and expertise on Sunday when his side travel to Merseyside. However, the former Shakhtar Donetsk boss will be without several of his most important players for the clash, with Joao Pedro, Kauro Mitoma, Solly March, Julio Enciso and Billy Gilmour all sidelined with injuries. Ex-Reds star James Milner will also be absent from the match following his move away from Anfield over the summer.
