Roberto De Zerbi comments on Brighton future amidst links to A.C. Milan and Juventus jobs

Italian newspaper la Repubblica reported earlier this week that the Serie A champions were eyeing up the Albion manager to replace under-fire manager Stefano Pioli.

De Zerbi offered little comment on the rumours, saying: “I’m very happy to stay here. I’m enjoying it a lot every day and at the moment I can't say anything more.”

Pioli is currently under pressure in the San Siro hot seat, having not won a game in 2023, losing three straight league games and being knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Torino in extra time.

The run of results have left Milan 18 points off leaders Napoli in fifth place and the club’s board are believed to be looking at replacement for Pioli come the end of the season.

HAVE YOU READ THIS?

Roberto De Zerbi wants an 'aggressive' Brighton team for derby game against Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace vs Brighton: Zaha out, Albion set to welcome back star striker

Brighton could unleash their £10m 'double playmaker' for specialist role at Crystal Palace

De Zerbi is highly regraded in his home country for his work with Sassuolo between 2018 and 2021.

The Italian took a relegation-threatened side to within a whisker of playing European football in the three years he was at the club, whilst also playing an attractive brand of football that pleased both fans and pundits alike.

The 43-year-old has also managed Benevento and Palermo in Italy, as well as working in Ukraine as Shakhtar Donetsk head coach from May 2021 to July 2022, before being forced to leave due to the Russian invasion of the country.

De Zerbi was appointed as Brighton head coach in September, signing a four-year contact with the club and succeeding Graham Potter, who left the south coast to join Chelsea.

According to la Repubblica, De Zerbi has a €13m release clause in his contract, but this is yet to be confirmed by the club.

After a difficult start to life at the Amex Stadium, in which he won none of his first five games in charge, De Zerbi is now starting to enjoy life at Brighton.

His side are currently unbeaten in 2023 and have won 10 of their last 14 games in all competitions, scoring 36 goals in the process, reaching the last 16 of both the EFL and FA Cup, the latter of which they are still in with a chance of winning.

This run of form has pushed Brighton up to sixth in the Premier League table, six points off fourth place Newcastle, with a game in hand.