Roberto De Zerbi has now emerged as one of the main contenders for the vacant Chelsea manager’s job.
The former Brighton boss has joined Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna, Leicester’s Enzo Maresca and Brentford’s Thomas Frank on the Blues’ managerial shortlist.
Italian coach De Zerbi is understood to be keen for a quick return to management and wants to prove himself the right fit for the Chelsea job.
Chelsea would still have to pay Brighton compensation should they wish to appoint De Zerbi despite his Seagulls exit, understood to be a fee of £5million.
Chelsea chiefs would not be put off by that sum, should they decide De Zerbi is their man to replace Mauricio Pochettino.
Chelsea’s search for a new boss remains an open battle, with the Blues relying on their interview process before making a final call.
Chelsea still want a manager who can grow with the Stamford Bridge club’s new ownership but also want to stress test their decisions in a comprehensive process.
Brighton are also interested in recruiting Ipswich manager McKenna to replace De Zerbi, while Manchester United have tabs on the Northern Irishman too.
De Zerbi led Brighton to a sixth-place Premier League finish and an FA Cup semi-final in 2022/23, his first campaign with the Seagulls.
Tensions with chairman Tony Bloom led to his departure at the end of this term however, with Brighton finishing 11th as the campaign tailed off.
Brighton mustered just two wins from their final 11 matches of the season, before De Zerbi left the south coast club.
Brighton did reach the last-16 of the Europa League but that was not enough to stop both club and manager looking to make a change.
De Zerbi took charge of Brighton in September 2022, when Graham Potter left for Chelsea.
The former Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk boss was quickly feted for his high-octane, aggressive team set-ups, as Brighton were able to shake off Potter’s unwanted exit.
