Bayern Munich are planning to approach Brighton and Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi, after being rejected by Ralf Rangnick this week.
That’s according to BILD, who say Bayern chief Max Eberl will now approach the Italian manager as he continues to look for Thomas Tuchel’s successor.
The newspaper reports that the Brighton manager has been on Eberl’s list for weeks and is considered a tactical genius by the club.
Rangnick’s rejection has led to the Bayern chief moving on to other targets and De Zerbi is one of those who will be contacted as a result.
De Zerbi has a contract at Brighton until 2026 but what stands in his favour is a belief in Bavaria that Brighton probably wouldn’t put ‘any major obstacles’ in their way in terms of transfer fees.
BILD report there is talk of a sum ‘in the low double-digit millions’, although that would be a lot of money for Bayern, who have paid through the nose for managers in recent years and been stung.
That statement also feels a little optimistic on their part given reports for months have actually indicated that De Zerbi’s release clause in €15m and quite solidly set. Similarly, it’s consistently been reported Brighton don’t intend to simply let the Italian go.
Perhaps the German giants are just trying to cheer themselves up and think positively in what has been a horrible, ego destroying attempt to find their new manager so far.