Roberto De Zerbi, the current Brighton and Hove Albion manager, has emerged as the leading candidate to take over at Manchester United if Erik ten Hag departs after this season.
Reports from Football Insider suggest that De Zerbi has overtaken Graham Potter and Gareth Southgate as the top choice for the managerial position.
The Peoples Person reported in February that Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a minority owner of United, is contemplating De Zerbi for the role, having reservations about Ten Hag’s fit for the team.
De Zerbi recently addressed the speculation regarding his potential move.
“I do what makes me happy and right now it is to be where I am. I’m lucky now to be able to compete with these teams at this level to play these games,” he explained, seemingly appeasing his current club.
Caption: De Zerbi hasn’t dismissed the idea of leaving Brighton, and he’s open to a future return to Italy, where he has managed teams like Palermo, Benevento, and Sassuolo.
In December, Graham Potter was seen as a strong contender to succeed Ten Hag, especially after meeting with Ratcliffe, fueling speculation.
By March, Potter was back in the spotlight as a potential United manager following a meeting with Dan Ashworth, who is tipped to be United’s next sporting director.
However, not everyone is enthusiastic about Potter’s potential at United, with club legend Dwight Yorke skeptical of his capabilities at Old Trafford, citing his underwhelming stint at Chelsea as a sign of his difficulties at top clubs. De Zerbi took over at Brighton following Potter’s departure.
Recently, England manager Southgate was named as Ratcliffe’s preferred choice to take over from Ten Hag.
Southgate, still actively coaching England since 2016, might seem like a suitable successor due to his high-level managerial experience, but his lack of Premier League experience and the timing with the Euros mean his appointment would have to wait.
Southgate, who led England to the Euro 2020 final, aims to go further in Germany this summer.
De Zerbi could be a more attainable option for United, as moving from Brighton represents a significant career advancement.
De Zerbi has had a notable impact at Brighton, achieving a 6th place finish in the Premier League last season and Europa League qualification. This season, they’re in eighth place, and recently exited the Europa League in the round of 16 against Roma.
Ten Hag still has opportunities to win the FA Cup and secure a top-four Premier League finish, and he’s eager to demonstrate his value to Ratcliffe and INEOS, aiming to retain his role at United and continue building the team’s future.