Romano REVEALS De Zerbi release clause as Reds and Bayern eye move for Brighton boss

Roberto De Zerbi is among the candidates to replace Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager this summer, with the Italian now also wanted by German record champions Bayern Munich. 

The decision of Xabi Alonso to remain with Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen has meant both Liverpool and Bayern casting around for other candidates. 

Klopp announced his intention to leave Anfield back in January while Thomas Tuchel’s spell at the Allianz Arena is also coming to an end, with the Bavarian club seeking a “sporting realignment” for next season in the words of CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen. 

While Alonso, 42, was tipped as the No.1 candidate for both jobs, his announcement last week that he intended to stay at the BayArena brought a number of other names into contention. 

At Liverpool, Ruben Amorim of Sporting CP is admired and De Zerbi brought his Brighton team to Merseyside on Sunday in what was seen as an audition for the Reds hotseat. 

The home side ran out 2-1 winners but the Seagulls gave Liverpool a stern test despite being shorn of many first-team players due to injury. 

After the game, Klopp offered De Zerbi his seal of approval, revealing in the post-game press conference: "I told De Zerbi to keep turning the football world upside down. I will watch it from some distance. I respect so much what he's doing." 

The former Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk manager’s future is shrouded in doubt despite a Brighton contract extending to 2026. 

The 44-year-old revealed last week that he had no intention of signing a new deal and would first seek talks about the club’s future direction before committing. 

"At the moment, no,” he said when asked if he had agreed to a new deal. "We didn't find the agreement. The contract is a part of the future. It's important for me, it's important for everyone but it's a small part, the big part is the plan. We have to speak with the club."

De Zerbi release clause revealed by Romano

That doubt could well open the door to potential suitors, such as Liverpool and Bayern, with Fabrizio Romano revealing that there IS a release clause in the Brighton boss’s current deal. 

A fee of “£12m/£13m”, which becomes active this summer, should be enough to secure De Zerbi should Liverpool make a move. 

He added that Bayern were discussing De Zerbi inside the club while no moves had yet been made by the Reds. 

“Roberto de Zerbi has release clause into his contract at Brighton and it’s around £12/13m, only valid in the summer,” Romano wrote on X, formerly Twitter. 

“De Zerbi wants to discuss plans with Brighton board to decide his future. Internal talks still ongoing at Bayern. NO concrete talks with Liverpool so far.”