Liverpool have received a recommendation from BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks to consider appointing Roberto De Zerbi, the current manager of Brighton & Hove Albion, as their new manager for the 2024/25 season.
This suggestion comes as Liverpool search for a replacement for their current head coach, Jurgen Klopp, who recently announced his departure from the club at the conclusion of the ongoing campaign.
As the Reds continue to dominate the Premier League, leading the race with only nine games remaining in the season, they also anticipate an upcoming Europa League quarter-final clash against Atalanta later this month. Meanwhile, Roberto De Zerbi has been demonstrating his managerial prowess with yet another commendable season at Brighton.
Liverpool ‘Could Do Much Worse’ Than Appoint De Zerbi
The Reds’ quest for a new manager encountered an unexpected turn last week when Xabi Alonso, a long-standing target, declared his commitment to Bayer Leverkusen post the 2023/24 season.
Alonso, the former Liverpool midfielder, had been widely touted as the top candidate to succeed Klopp at Anfield, especially after his commendable leadership at Bayer Leverkusen, where the team came close to clinching the Bundesliga title.
Despite Alonso’s decision, Liverpool’s pursuit for a new manager persists, with several alternatives still on their radar. Reports suggest that Brighton’s manager, Roberto De Zerbi, occupies the top spot on Michael Edwards’ list of potential successors to Jurgen Klopp.
In his weekly column for BBC Sport, Garth Crooks suggests that Liverpool might consider appointing De Zerbi, noting his remarkable achievements at Brighton as “miraculous.” Crooks stated:
“Much has been made about the decision of Xabi Alonso to remain at Bayer Leverkusen, but Liverpool could do much worse than offer Roberto De Zerbi the post. What he has done at Brighton is nothing short of miraculous.”
The contract of the Italian head coach at the Amex Stadium extends until the summer of 2026, implying that Liverpool would need to pay substantial compensation to hire De Zerbi.
Joining the Seagulls in September 2022, the 44-year-old has led the south coast team through their inaugural continental campaign, building upon their sixth-place finish in the previous Premier League season.
De Zerbi is not the sole consideration for Liverpool as they approach the conclusion of the 2023/24 season. The club faces mounting pressure to finalize their managerial search prior to the commencement of pre-season preparations for the upcoming term.
As per reports from The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Ruben Amorim, the manager of Sporting CP, is open to the possibility of taking on the Liverpool vacancy.
Amorim, aged 39, is highly regarded within the coaching fraternity in Europe, having notably steered the Lisbon-based club to their first league championship in 19 years during the 2020/21 campaign.
Concurrently, Liverpool’s pursuit of Julian Nagelsmann faces a timing dilemma, as the German coach is intent on resolving his future with the German Football Association before EURO 2024. Nagelsmann, aged 36, is nearing the end of his current contract, set to expire post the European Championships.
Any potential extension to his contract could potentially eliminate him from contention for a managerial position in the Premier League, with rumored interest from both Manchester United and Liverpool.
In other Liverpool news, Roy Keane Reveals What “Helped” Liverpool in Their Win Over Brighton