Roberto De Zerbi 'not considered' by Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp successor with other candidates in focus

Liverpool are NOT considering Roberto De Zerbi in the hunt for Jurgen Klopp's successor, according to a report.

The Brighton boss has become one of Europe's most sought-after managers since joining the Seagulls 18 months ago and was tipped as a potential candidate to take over the top job at Anfield. However, it has emerged he is currently not part of a shortlist.

The Mirror, via Sky Sports report that the Liverpool hierarchy have turned their focus to other candidates with Sporting Lisbon gaffer Ruben Amorim believed to be among them. Inter Milan's Simone Inzaghi is another who has admirers on Merseyside. The Brighton boss could still leave his current post with Bayern Munich reportedly interested in him as they seek a replacement for their top job. They trail Bayer Leverkusen by 13 points in the race for the Bundesliga title after a weekend defeat to Borussia Dortmund.

When asked about his future ahead of Brighton's 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, De Zerbi said: "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."

De Zerbi shared that he's planning to have a chat with Brighton owner Tony Bloom, saying: "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, my club, to understand their plan, to understand his plan, the Tony plan. Then we take the decision together, without problems."