Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Liverpool have engaged in internal discussions regarding a potential managerial successor to Jurgen Klopp later this year.
A prominent name that has surfaced repeatedly in these discussions over the past week is Roberto De Zerbi. His reputation in England has witnessed a significant upswing during his 16-month tenure at Brighton.
In an interview with GIVEMESPORT, Romano confirmed that the 44-year-old De Zerbi is being considered as a potential target by the Anfield hierarchy. The club are currently prioritising the appointment of a new sporting director to replace Jorg Schmadtke before focusing on the search for their next manager.
Romano outlined: “Roberto De Zerbi is another manager they have discussed internally as one of the options. So this name for sure will be on the shortlist.
“Let’s see who else is going to be on this list. Let’s see what the new director will decide in terms of who is the best manager for the new project after Jurgen Klopp.
“It’s never easy to come into a club like Liverpool and make an impact at the same level of Jurgen Klopp. They will speak internally, they will have a new director and then they will decide who is going to be the new coach.”
Last year, under De Zerbi’s leadership, Brighton made their first entry into European competition. Their performance in the Europa League, where they currently lead a group featuring former Champions League winners Ajax and Marseille, underscores their capability at this elevated stage.
De Zerbi has notably achieved success against Liverpool, boasting a record of two wins and two draws in four encounters with Klopp’s team. Among these matches was a convincing 3-0 victory at the Amex Stadium just over a year ago, as reported by Transfermarket.
The Italian manager has garnered acclaim for his possession-based football philosophy and adeptness at outmaneuvering opposition presses, according to insights from Sky Sports.
Additionally, under his guidance, midfielder Alexis Mac Allister displayed prowess by scoring eight goals in the previous season, as documented by Transfermarkt.
Despite these accomplishments, De Zerbi’s Brighton has displayed a peculiar vulnerability to occasional heavy defeats. Recent instances include a 4-0 loss to Luton, a 6-1 defeat by Aston Villa earlier in the season, and a 1-5 setback at home to relegation-threatened Everton in May of the prior year.
Following the win in five out of their initial six Premier League matches this season, the Seagulls have only managed to secure victory in three of the subsequent 16. This form is unlikely to please Liverpool fans, especially if a similar sequence were to be replicated with the Reds.
While Graham Potter’s successor has demonstrated considerable success on the south coast, stepping into Klopp’s shoes on Merseyside poses a different challenge altogether.
Nonetheless, if reports from the reliable Romano are accurate and discussions about his name have taken place within the corridors of Anfield, it suggests that he is making significant strides in the right direction.
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