Manchester United have reportedly received a boost in their hopes of landing Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi in the near future.
According to Football Insider, Italian manager Roberto De Zerbi is set to sign an improved, brand-new deal with the Seagulls. However, it is understood that if the 44-year-old were to have his head turned amid Manchester United interest, Brighton would be willing to let him go if their asking price is met.
The Red Devils’ boss, Erik ten Hag, is under a mountain of pressure right now after a string of dismal performances that have left them playing catchup in both the Premier League and Champions League.
Following an excellent debut season at Old Trafford, where the Dutch manager helped guide United to a top-four finish while lifting the EFL Cup and making it to the FA Cup final, it was thought that the Manchester giants would kick on and establish themselves as a genuine title contender this time out, especially after splashing close to £200 million during the summer transfer window.
In stark contrast, the Red Devils are on the verge of exiting the UEFA Champions League at the group stages, already dumped out of the EFL Cup, and have very little chance of being involved in the Premier League title race with the season only halfway through as they continue to display poor attitude and a lack of clear tactical identity.
It is believed that incoming Red Devils owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is planning to replace Ten Hag with De Zerbi, with the Italian performing impressively since his arrival in Brighton in September 2022.
De Zerbi had a tough assignment following Graham Potter, but the 44-year-old led the Seagulls to a sixth-place finish in last season’s Premier League table, which proved to be their highest-ever spot, earning praise for his brand of attacking football.
Brighton, who are flying high in the Europa League this season, have also made a solid start to this season, picking up 22 points from 14 league matches to sit eighth in the table. And following such an impressive spell, De Zerbi has found himself linked with some high-profile roles, including those at Manchester City and Real Madrid.
The Seagulls’ are now ready to offer De Zerbi a new long-term deal to keep him at the Amex beyond 2026 in order to rule out an immediate exit this season. However, the south coast club will not stand in the Italian head coach’s way if he pushes to leave the club in the future and they receive a top-bracket fee, handing the Red Devils a significant boost in their pursuit.
