Tony Bloom is planning an ambitious summer transfer window for the purpose of establishing Brighton as regular competitors for Europe – but will it be enough to keep Roberto De Zerbi?
Writing in this week’s talkSPORT transfer notebook, Alex Crook exclusively revealed the Albion are hoping to avoid selling anymore star players whilst providing an update on neogtiations over a new contract between the club and De Zerbi.
“Brighton have been speaking to Roberto De Zerbi about the possibility of extending his contract but, despite recent speculation, have received no contact from any other clubs,” reports Crook.
“Seagulls boss De Zerbi is believed to be on Barcelona’s shortlist of candidates to replace Xavi at the end of the season.”
“The fiery Italian also has admirers in the corridors of power at both Manchester United and Liverpool, as well as in his native Italy.”
“However, talkSPORT understands De Zerbi, whose current deal expires in the summer of 2026, has not given Brighton any indication he wants to leave.”
“Brighton’s case for keeping De Zerbi is helped by the fact they are not under financial pressure to sell any more of their star players.”
“In fact, owner Tony Bloom has ambitious recruitment plans for the upcoming summer transfer window as he bids to transform the Sussex side into an established European outfit.”
De Zerbi has seen three important first team players sold in his 18 months at the Amex. A release clause allowed Alexis Mac Allister to join Liverpool for £35 million last summer.
Brighton then found a British transfer record bid of £115 million from Chelsea for Moises Caicedo too good to turn down.
De Zerbi understood both those decisions, as he did Leandro Trossard departing to Arsenal for £25 million in January.
Trossard had only 18 months left on his contract and had effectively gone on strike to force through a move, running off to Europe on the Eurostar ahead of Brighton beating Liverpool 3-0 at the Amex.
The Albion manager seemed less impressed with what the Albion did in the January 2024 transfer window. Having told the club in December that he felt three or four new signings were needed, Brighton made just one for their first team squad – Argentine teenager Valentine Barco.
De Zerbi was asked after the window slammed shut whether he was happy with his squad. “I don’t know. We will see in the next games. It is not my business, the transfer market,” replied the Italian.
“I think we are two less two players in the midfield. I spoke with the club but they decided a different way,” he added.
The lack of activity should not have come as too much of a surprise. Bloom is well-known for disliking doing business in winter. The last time Brighton spent big in January was the £15 million lavished on DJ Jurgen Locadia in 2018 – enough to put anyone off.
It did though represent a gamble in terms of timing, a quiet transfer window coming in the middle of those talks over a new contract. De Zerbi has previously said his signature on an extended deal will be partly dependent on the club’s ambitions aligning with his.
De Zerbi’s ambitions would appear to be having a squad to regularly compete for European football and challenge for trophies.
The prospects of repeating the success of 2022-23 in the current campaign were undermined by sufficiently replacing Mac Allister or Caicedo in the summer or signing the reinforcements De Zerbi asked for in January.
Would that lead De Zerbi to conclude the club has different priorities and ambitions to their head coach? That question will be answered by how successful negotiations are and what happens in a summer promising an almighty managerial merry-go-round.
Jurgen Klopp leaves Liverpool, Xavi departs Barcelona and Thomas Tuchel waves goodbye to Bayern Munich. New United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is unconvinced by Erik ten Hag and De Zerbi has not been shy in saying he wants to return to Italy at some point.
If the AC Milan job for example became available, Bloom would have a fight on his hands convincing De Zerbi to remain in Sussex over heading back to Serie A.
Which is why Bloom’s plans to avoid selling star names and strengthening the squad with the aim of becoming regular participants in European football is so welcome.
If the Albion can resist expected offers for Kaoru Mitoma and Evan Ferguson and add four or five quality additions, then it is scary to think what De Zerbi could achieve.
Brighton remain in contention for Europe again this season despite Mac Allister and Caicedo leaving and a crippling injury list. That is testament to the ability of their head coach.
De Zerbi has had to cope with no natural full backs and all four of his wingers – the players so important to the success of DeZerbiBall – being unavailable at the same time.
A competent ball winner to better shield the back four is a necessity, as highlighted by central midfield being the one position De Zerbi has frequently talked about requiring strengthening.
New full back cover, one new winger and a number 10 should also be high on the Albion’s shopping list. And these players need to be able to make an immediate impact upon the first team squad. Not teenagers signed for the future.
Unlike the majority of the Premier League, Brighton have no FFP limits to take into account when it comes to their summer business. This in part explains Bloom’s apparent confidence over ambitious recruitment.
A net transfer profit of £134 million between 2018 and 2023 gives the Albion plenty of spending power in a market where other clubs will both need to sell existing players to reduce losses and be reluctant to pay over the odds for new signings.
The only question is will the change in approach talkSPORT are reporting come too late to convince De Zerbi to remain with Brighton?
Was it needed last summer or in January, before so many jobs at top clubs became available? If Liverpool or Barcelona approach De Zerbi in April or May, does he wait to find out whether Bloom and the Albion back up their words in the transfer market?
Or will it be De Zerbi’s successor as Brighton head coach who benefits from Bloom’s ambition to become established in Europe? We will find out over the next six months.
