Bayern-linked De Zerbi: I want to stay at Brighton

De Zerbi has been linked with the Bavarian giants since they made the decision to part ways with Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season, and had been touted as a possible replacement for Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool before the Merseyside club reportedly reached an agreement with Feyenoord for the services of Arne Slot.

Barcelona had also been tracking De Zerbi, sources told ESPN, prior to Xavi Hernández's decision to stay at the Catalan club.

"I would like to stay in Brighton because I love my players, I love this city, I love my club and my fans," De Zerbi told Sky Sports.

"I said in the meeting with the fans, if I am happy there isn't a club that can bring myself to change team.

"I need to find the balance between my heart and my head. And there is a part of myself who pushes with the heart, and the other is more calm to analyse better the situation."

De Zerbi added that he plans to speak to Brighton owner Tony Bloom about his future soon.

The Italian coach replaced Graham Potter as Brighton's manager in September 2022 and led the south coast club to a sixth-place finish in 2022-23, earning continental football for the first time in their history.

De Zerbi has endured a more difficult domestic season this term with Brighton in 12th in the Premier League. They reached the Europa League round of 16, where they were comfortably beaten by Daniele De Rossi's Roma over two legs.

Brighton play fourth-placed Aston Villa on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Tuchel told a news conference on Friday that "everything is possible" with regards to him staying in the manager's role at Bayern after frontrunner Ralf Rangnick withdrew from contention to focus on leading Austria at this summer's European Championship.