Blow for Liverpool AND Bayern?! Third club enter race to land Roberto De Zerbi with Brighton boss keen to return to Italy

According to German publication Abendzeitung Munchen, the Old Lady are keeping tabs on the former Sassuolo manager, with the 44-year-old keen on a return to Italy. The ex-Shakhtar Donetsk boss has been linked with Liverpool but it appears they will look elsewhere for a Jurgen Klopp successor, however, Bayern are understood to still admire the Italian.

While De Zerbi's contract at Brighton expires in 2026, he is yet to sign a new deal despite entering contract talks late last year. The Seagulls head coach has hinted he is not entirely happy with the club's hierarchy and their lack of transfer dealings but also suggested he may stay at the Sussex outfit beyond this season. An interesting summer lies ahead.

De Zerbi, who reportedly has a €15 million (£12.8m/$16.2m) release clause, admitted it is an "honour" to be linked with big teams and that one day he wants to manage in Italy again.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said this week: "When I hear that the big teams are interested in me, it’s an honour, it makes me proud, but my focus is on my work, day by day. About my future, I speak with the [Brighton] owners [Tony Bloom] and the club because I want to compete in the best way that I can, I want to understand the plan, and then it’s not a problem to work at a big team or at another big team. I’d like, in my career, to compete to win the Premier League, Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Champions League, but there isn’t a time where you have to go or have to compete, or you have to wait more time.”

While speculation over De Zerbi's future will continue to rumble on in the coming weeks and months, he will hope his Brighton side can beat Premier League title hopefuls Arsenal at the Amex on Saturday evening.