Brighton & Hove Albion contact Roberto De Zerbi over their vacant managerial role

Brighton & Hove Albion have contacted free agent Roberto De Zerbi over the vacant managerial role at the Amex Stadium, according to Michele Criscitiello.

The 43-year-old impressed during his time at Sassuolo after joining in 2018. He guided the Neroverdi to an eight-place finish in his final season in charge before moving to Shakhtar Donetsk last season.

De Zerbi is currently a free agent after leaving Shakhtar at the end of the campaign.

During his one-year spell with the Ukrainian giants, the Italian manager averaged 2.17 points per match as they raced to the Ukrainian League title, beating rivals Dynamo Kyiv by two points.

He has now caught the attention of the Seagulls, who are on the hunt for a new manager to replace Graham Potter, who joined Chelsea following Thomas Tuchel’s departure.

Potter has been touted as one of the best English managers around so Chelsea spared no expense in buying him out of his Brighton contract.

With the 47-year-old now set to begin a new era in his career, Brighton want a manager capable of picking up where Potter left off after recording four wins, one draw and one loss in his last six games in charge.

They also want one who fits with the club’s developmental philosophy, especially when it comes to young players.

After the postponement of this weekend’s Premier League fixtures following the death of the Queen, Brighton chairman Tony Bloom now has ample time to decide on which coach to appoint.

De Zerbi is high on the shortlist, but he is joined by Bodo/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen who has also impressed Brighton’s bosses. However, they have now contacted De Zerbi, and negotiations have begun.

Brighton are also looking at Ange Postecoglou, although the Celtic manager is not too keen to abandon the project in Scotland after winning the Scottish Premiership title in his first season and taking the club into the Champions League.