Roberto De Zerbi issues warning to Brighton amid Liverpool interest

The Italian has put forward his demand to Brighton with Liverpool keen to poach the manager..

Brighton and Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi's latest comments would encourage Liverpool.

The Italian is one of the best young managers in world football right and with the Merseyside club interested in him, his future has been very much part of the discussion these days.

De Zerbi has claimed that if he does not feel comfortable at the Amex, he cannot stay at the club anymore.

The Brighton manager's status is being keenly watched because Liverpool has a vacancy this summer. The Italian openly acknowledged in his Brighton negotiations that the "problem" in his talks would be to find the same long-term vision.

The 44-year-old manager said: "I want to keep my ambition and my motivation. I really live 24h/day for football".

"I want to understand Brighton’s plan and project because if I don’t feel comfortable, I can’t stay anymore".

Having taken over for Graham Potter in 2022, De Zerbi is under contract with Brighton until 2026. Since taking the team into Europe with a sixth-place finish, he has made a name for himself as one of the best young managers in Europe.

Liverpool's interest in the manager is genuine and it has picked up pace after Xabi Alonso's decision to stay at Bayer Leverkusen.

The Spaniard was the frontrunner to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield but his decision means that the Merseyside club would have to look at other options.

Along with De Zerbi, they are looking at Sporting's Ruben Amorim, who is higher on the Premier League club's wish list.

Brighton, who previously pocketed €25.1m from Chelsea for letting them have their former manager Potter, could now demand €14m from the club looking to appoint De Zerbi.

On Sunday, De Zerbi will command his team at Anfield against Liverpool in what is thought to be a possible trial for the Italian manager to replace Klopp.