‘Would hardly say no’ – Confidence growing that Roberto De Zerbi will accept job and leave Brighton

There is a confidence growing at AC Milan that they could lure Roberto De Zerbi from Brighton and Hove Albion this summer.

That’s according to Corriere della Sera, who say the idea of moving for the Italian ‘has grown at Milan’ as they hunt for Stefano Pioli’s replacement.

The club want to make their next appointment the right one and are casting their net wide, looking at options to make sure they get the right man in place.

The ‘hot names’ are currently De Zerbi and Paolo Fonseca, who represent the ideal profile that Milan’s leadership are looking at. They are young, have an international profile and play good football, among other factors.

The idea of the Brighton manager ‘has grown at Milan’ and the growing belief is that he ‘would hardly say no to a proposal’. Alongside that, there is a feeling that if he were to return to Italy it would be to coach the Rossoneri.

The big obstacle is the €15m release clause in his current contract. That can be negotiated but Brighton are unlikely to make things that simple.

They’re likely to be resistant to any deal for the Italian and have made that clear before now, but Milan feel De Zerbi would jump given the opportunity.