The Argentine was appointed Chelsea boss last summer, penning an initial two-year deal with an option to extend by a further year.
Despite only being in his first season with the West London club, Pochettino is already facing an uncertain future following a tumultuous campaign.
Chelsea have fared reasonably well in the cup competitions, reaching the final of the EFL Cup and the semi-final of the FA Cup.
However, they have struggled to find consistency in the Premier League, having won 13, drawn eight and lost 11 of their 32 games.
Chelsea add De Zerbi to managerial shortlistAs a result of their mixed form, the Blues are sitting in ninth place with three points separating them from sixth-placed Manchester United, who have played a game more.
Although they could still secure European football, the Chelsea board are reportedly yet to make a final decision over Pochettino's future.
With Chelsea keeping their options open, The Times are reporting that De Zerbi is among the contenders to replace Pochettino if the Blues decide to change their manager at the end of the season.
De Zerbi has developed an impressive reputation since taking over the reins at the Amex Stadium in September 2022.
The 44-year-old led the Seagulls to the FA Cup semi-finals and a sixth-place finish, securing European football for the first time in Brighton's history.
Chelsea identify alternative candidatesDespite experiencing a tougher 2023-24 campaign, De Zerbi is still highly regarded and was one of the names mentioned to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
However, with the Reds set to appoint Feyenoord boss Arn
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