- De Zerbi has received many admirers for the job he has done at Brighton
- Man United, Liverpool and Chelsea are among those keen on the Italian
- Liverpool can’t play a weakened team that says they can’t be bothered in Europe just to be ready for Man City – It’s All Kicking Off podcast
Clubs interested in hiring Roberto De Zerbi have discovered the compensation fee they will have to pay to secure the Italian from Brighton this summer.
De Zerbi has won many admirers for the work he has done at the Amex Stadium since joining the club last season.
The 44-year-old is on the shortlist to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, while Man United and Chelsea are also keen, with the futures of Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino both uncertain.
A report from The Telegraph has revealed that landing De Zerbi would cost a package of at least £12m for him to leave Brighton.
The Italian is currently contracted at the south coast club until the end of the 2025-26 season.
Brighton are demanding a £12m fee from clubs interested in hiring Roberto De Zerbi
De Zerbi (right) is in the race to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool at the end of the season
Manchester United are also keen with Erik ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford currently uncertain
Despite the staggering fee it’s not the biggest that Brighton would have received in terms of compensation for a manager.
The Seagulls received £21.5m from Chelsea for De Zerbi’s predecessor Graham Potter.
That fee included costs for Potter’s staff, though it is uncertain whether De Zerbi’s fee would include his backroom staff.
The Italian is second in the race to succeed Klopp when he leaves Anfield this summer, with their former star Xabi Alonso – currently at unbeaten Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen – leading the pack.
Manchester United’s new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is yet to publicly back Ten Hag, although no decision has been made on his future.
De Zerbi is also the bookies’ favourite to replace Pochettino at Chelsea, with the Blues currently sitting in the bottom half of the table as the Argentine has struggled to turn around their fortunes despite the club’s heavy spending.
De Zerbi is the bookies’ favourite to replace Mauricio Pochettino amid Chelsea’s struggles
The Italian guided Brighton to a sixth place finish last season but has found it tougher this term, with the club ninth after winning just three out of their last 12 Premier League games
Among his biggest plaudits has been Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, who last season claimed he was ‘one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years’.
He has struggled to match the heights of last season however, with the club ninth in the standings having won just three of their last 12 Premier League matches.
The club finished sixth under De Zerbi last season, and are set to play in the Round of 16 in the Europa League against Roma on Thursday.
