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
De Zerbi, who arrived at the Amex in September 2022 and oversaw the club's highest-ever finish in the Premier League last season
Earlier this week De Zerbi 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.
De Zerbi insisted he can remain at Brighton irrespective of whether he can come to an agreement with the club over an extension
De Zerbi
"I have another two years of contract and to work next season at Brighton I don't need to extend the contract,"
"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 a serious thing."
De Zerbi added:
"For the target, first of all. What is the target? What are we playing for? But I've already spoken with Tony [Bloom] and in the future, we are going to speak about the next plan, the next season, to organise the next season and then we will find the solution.
"But we both have to be happy, the club and myself as well."
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