Roberto De Zerbi considered as the ‘favourite’ for the Chelsea job with the ex-Brighton boss on a four-man shortlist to replace Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge
- Chelsea are looking for a new manager after parting ways with Mauricio Pochettino
- The Zerbi is the fourth name on their shortlist as they continue their search for a manager
- Chelsea are ‘mind-boggling’… Mauricio Pochettino has NOT failed – where do the Blues go from here? Listen to the It all starts! Podcast
Former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is a leading candidate for the Chelsea job after Mail Sport confirmed his previously undisclosed inclusion in their four-man shortlist.
Zerbi is in the running alongside Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna, Leicester’s Enzo Maresca and Brentford’s Thomas Frank with crucial days ahead in the search for Mauricio Pochettino’s successor.
A club insider described the 44-year-old Italian as the ‘favourite’ as he is believed to tick the boxes Chelsea are looking for, although nothing has been finalized yet.
Chelsea completed their shortlist with a focus on finding a dynamic, forward-thinking and forward-thinking coach who fits the club’s ideology. They also want the chosen candidate to have experience in English football at a high level.
De Zerbi has managed Brighton in the Premier League for the past two seasons, leading them to Europe for the first time in their history with a brand of possession-based football.
Former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is a leading candidate to become Chelsea manager
The Blues parted ways with boss Mauricio Pochettino after the end of the season
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna (left) and Brentford’s Thomas Frank (right) are also in line for the vacant Chelsea job
Leicester’s promotion-winning coach Enzo Maresca is another candidate for the vacancy
Despite being under contract until 2026, De Zerbi left Brighton by mutual consent at the end of the season after he and owner-chairman Tony Bloom agreed they had different ‘ideas and visions’.
If Chelsea manage to acquire De Zerbi, they will still have to pay damages to Brighton, who are currently reportedly worth around £5 million.
The South Coast club made sure this was included as insurance in their amicable split in case another club emerged this summer.
Xavi is not being considered by Chelsea following his departure from Barcelona, while Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness and Girona’s Michel are out of the running and Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim is not shortlisted.
Chelsea supporters responded positively to the news that De Zerbi is among the four candidates.
In a social media poll after the Mail Sport report, he received strong support with 72.8 percent of the 26,000 votes cast. Maresca followed at 13.4 percent, McKenna at 8.9 percent and Frank at five percent.
De Zerbi parted ways with Brighton on the last day of the season as he was surrounded by speculation and a move to Bayern Munich, who are on the verge of signing Vincent Kompany from Burnley.
A move to Chelsea would see De Zerbi reunited with Levi Colwill and Moises Caicedo, as well as Mykhailo Mudryk from his time at Shakhtar Donetsk. Co-sports director Paul Winstanley also worked briefly with De Zerbi at Brighton.
