Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi says he is no closer to signing a new contract, putting his future at the club in doubt amid links with Liverpool and Barcelona.
The Italian, whose current deal runs out in 2026, has reportedly drawn interest from clubs around Europe, and reiterated that no agreement on his future has been made.
When asked if he could sign a new contract at Brighton, he told Sky Sports: “At the moment, no.
“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.”
Revelations about De Zerbi’s contract situation come before Brighton’s Premier League clash with title-chasing Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
The Brighton boss admitted he wants to talk to the club’s chairman Tony Bloom to understand his plan for the future.
He added: “I have a different way to decide my future.
“I want to speak with my club, I have a contract but the problem is not the contract – the problem is to find the same plan, the same target, the same vision for the future.
“For me, I have not decided yet what is my future, because I have the contract, but anyway I want to speak with Tony (Bloom), my club, to understand their plan, to understand his plan, the Tony plan. Then we take the decision together, without problems.”
De Zerbi led the Seagulls to a sixth place finish in the league last season, qualifying them for the Europa League where they were knocked out earlier this month by Roma in the last 16.
He said: “My relationship with my players, my fans, I think it can’t change depending on the future. What we did is history and we can’t forget it.
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