'We finished the discussion' - Roberto De Zerbi makes major admission over future amid Liverpool links
Roberto De Zerbi has rubbished speculation that he plans to leave Brighton & Hove Albion at the end of the season - as he continues to be linked with the soon-to-be-vacant Liverpool job.
The 44-year-old Italian has emerged as a contender to succeed Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season after the news that Xabi Alonso will be staying put at Bayer Leverkusen for the meantime at least.
De Zerbi, who arrived at the Amex in September 2022 and oversaw the club's highest-ever finish in the Premier League last season, has a deal until 2026 but earlier this week admitted that he would not be signing an extension at this moment in time and instead would seek assurances from owner Tony Bloom over the club's plans for the future.
However, when questioned about his future after Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, in which goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah cancelled out Danny Welbeck's 2nd-minute opener, De Zerbi insisted he can remain at Brighton irrespective of whether he can come to an agreement with the club over an extension.
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"I have another two years of contract and to work next season at Brighton I don't need to extend the contract," said De Zerbi. "I can stay, I can work in Brighton with the extension or without the extension. Nothing has changed.
"I said yesterday, at the moment, we finished the discussion about the contract but not because I decided yet to leave. No, no. My focus is on Brighton this season, the next season but before I start next season I would like to speak and to listen to the plan of the team [Brighton] but I think it is
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