sport news Roberto De Zerbi might as well be holding a placard saying 'I want out' amid ... trends now
Chris Sutton believes that Brighton fans have the right to be angry with manager Roberto De Zerbi after he warned that the club must match his ambition in order for him to stay.
De Zerbi, one of the most sought-after managers in world football, has been heavily linked with the Liverpool job, especially after Xabi Alonso revealed that he will be staying at Bayer Leverkusen.
The Italian has two years remaining on his contract at Brighton and will hold discussions with owner Tony Bloom about the club's ambition.
De Zerbi said: 'What's the target? For what are we playing [for]?.
'I have already spoken with Tony and in the future we will speak about the next plan and the next season and to organise the next season and then we find the solution. We both have to be happy [about the targets] - myself and the club.'
Chris Sutton believes Brighton fans have a right to be annoyed with Roberto De Zerbi
De Zerbi, who has been linked with Liverpool, said Brighton must match his ambition
He continued: 'I have another two years of contract and to work next season at Brighton I don't need to extend another year or another two years. I can stay, I can work at Brighton with an extension, without an extension, nothing changes.
'At the moment we finished the discussion about the contract but not because I decided yet to leave, no no. My focus is on Brighton for this season and the next season - but the next season, before starting that, I would like to speak and to listen to the plan of the team. I think it's a serious thing.'
Sutton feels that De Zerbi's comments represent a 'come and get me' plea to Liverpool as well as other top clubs.
With Jurgen Klopp leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, De Zerbi could well be looking to take over at Anfield. There was much focus on De Zerbi on Sunday as Brighton faced Liverpool, with Klopp's side winning 2-1.
Sutton told It's All Kicking Off, Mail Sport's football podcast: 'Well, he basically has said to, I don't think just Liverpool, but to every club out there, come and get me. He may as well have held up a placard saying I'm available. I want out. I just think, you know, you're a journalist, you ask managers questions and managers...answer the question.
'So, De Zerbi's under contract until 2026? He was asked about the situation and he could have just batted it away and said something along the lines of 'we're still in discussions.'
Sutton believes that some of De Zerbi's comments regarding his future were 'unnecessary'.
He continued: 'But some of the stuff he said I thought was unnecessary and I would view it as loaded. He said the problem is not the contract, the problem is to find the same plan, the same target, the same vision for the future.
Sutton stated that some of the things De Zerbi said about his future were unnecessary
