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| Roberto De Zerbi head coach of Brighton & Hove Albion looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg training and press conference at Stadio Olimpico, on March 06, 2024, in Rome, Italy. |
A Liverpool legend has ruled Roberto de Zerbi out of the running to replace Jurgen Klopp by insisting Reds decision-makers wouldn't 'go anywhere near' the Italian.
The Brighton boss is one of the names in the running to succeed Klopp at Anfield after the German announced the shock decision to leave the club at the end of the season.
Current Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim is favourite to takeover Liverpool in the summer after Xabi Alonso made the decision to stay at Bayer Leverkusen, but De Zerbi has also been mentioned as a potential successor.
Doubt has been cast by De Zerbi over whether he will continue at Brighton for another season, amidst what has been a difficult and inconsistent season for the Seagulls.
But one Anfield icon doesn't believe the 44-year-old is a good fit for the club and slammed De Zerbi for letting discussions linking him with a move as 'getting carried away'.
Mark Lawrenson wrote himself into Liverpool history by making 347 appearances for the club during the 1980s and winning numerous top honours in the process.
The 66-year-old has given his verdict on the Premier League leader's search for a new manager capable of continuing Klopp's legacy.
‘I thought Roberto de Zerbi was a bit naughty last week, saying he wants more players,’ he told Paddy Power.
‘Brighton gave him his big gig, and he’s done very, very well. But once you go down that route of asking for more players, and maybe his agent is speaking to other clubs, I don’t think Liverpool will go anywhere near him.
‘He’s a good manager, but I think he is getting carried away – Brighton haven’t had a particularly good season.
‘He’s not dealt with the extra games and blamed it on not having enough players. De Zerbi won’t go to Liverpool, and he might’ve put one or two prospective club owners off him,' he added.
De Zerbi thrust himself onto the radar of top clubs around Europe after leading Brighton to sixth in the Premier League last season and a place in the ongoing Europa League competition during his debut year.
However, results have dipped during his second season with the club currently ninth in the English top-flight.
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