Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Roberto De Zerbi has refused to commit his future to the club amid reported interest from Liverpool and Bayern Munich.
De Zerbi is widely regarded as one of Europe's brightest young coaches having received plaudits for his attractive style of play and ability to work with young players during his 18-month spell in charge of the Seagulls.
The 44-year-old successfully secured European football for Brighton for the first time in the club's history last season, courtesy of a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League.
De Zerbi's men were beaten by Roma over two legs in the Europa League last 16 earlier this month, but they are still competing for a top-seven finish in the Premier League this term, currently sitting ninth in the table and just two points behind seventh-placed West Ham United who have played two games more than the Seagulls.
The Italian stated at the end of last year that he was in talks with Brighton over extending his contract beyond June 2026.
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De Zerbi's Brighton future in doubt amid Liverpool, Bayern links
However, De Zerbi has since cast doubt over his future as Brighton boss and has revealed that he is keen to hold further talks with the club's chairman Tony Bloom about their plans going forward.
De Zerbi has been strongly linked with a potential move to Liverpool, who play host to Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
Liverpool are on the lookout for a new manager as Jurgen Klopp will be stepping down from his post at the end of the season after eight-and-a-half memorable years at Anfield.
Bayern Munich are another European giant in the market for a new head coach as current boss Thomas Tuchel has mutually agreed to leave the Allianz Arena in the summer.
Both Liverpool and Bayern initially identified Xabi Alonso as their primary managerial target, but the Spaniard announced on Friday that he will be staying put in his current role at Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
It is now understood that both clubs have since turned their attention to other targets, with De Zerbi emerging as one of the leading contenders to succeed either Klopp or Tuchel.
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De Zerbi yet to reach agreement over new Brighton contract
Amid speculation about his future, De Zerbi was asked at a press conference on Saturday if he can reassure Brighton fans that he will remain the club's head coach next season, and the Italian said: "I have a different way to decide my future.
"I want to speak with my club, I have a contract but the problem is not the contract - the problem is to find the same plan, the same target, the same vision for the future.
"For me, I have not decided yet what is my future, because I have the contract, but anyway I want to speak with Tony (Bloom), my club, to understand their plan, to understand his plan, the Tony plan. Then we take the decision together, without problems.
"My relationship with my players, my fans, I think it can't change depending on the future. What we did is history and we can't forget it.
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"The future I want to keep my ambition, my motivation, I live for football 24 hours a day, I want to know what is the plan, what is the project, what is the future because if I don't feel comfortable, I don't feel the right motivation, I can't stay any longer."
Asked if there are plans for him to sign a new contract at Brighton, De Zerbi added: "At the moment, no.
"We didn't find the agreement. The contract is a part of the future. It's important for me, it's important for everyone but it's a small part, the big part is the plan. We have to speak with the club."
De Zerbi was lauded as a "top coach" by Klopp on Friday, although the German suggested that the Italian's style of play 'goes against his personality'.
Oliver Thomas
