Roberto de Zerbi has been linked to the Liverpool job (Picture: Getty)
Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson doesn’t expect his the Reds to consider appointing Roberto De Zerbi after the Italian’s ‘naughty’ demands for more players.
The Brighton boss was said to be one of the names in the running to replace Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season after his impressive time on the south coast.
De Zerbi guided Brighton to European football last season and currently has them ninth in the Premier League this campaign.
Reports have since distanced the Italian from the soon-to-be-vacant Liverpool post, with Lawrenson suggesting his public demands for players and spending may have put the Reds’ owners off.
‘I thought Roberto de Zerbi was a bit naughty last week, saying he wants more players,’ he told Paddy Power.
‘Brighton gave him his big gig, and he’s done very, very well. But once you go down that route of asking for more players, and maybe his agent is speaking to other clubs, I don’t think Liverpool will go anywhere near him.
‘He’s a good manager, but I think he is getting carried away – Brighton haven’t had a particularly good season.
Sporting boss Ruben Amorim has emerged as Liverpool’s top target (Picture: Getty)
‘He’s not dealt with the extra games and blamed it on not having enough players. De Zerbi won’t go to Liverpool, and he might’ve put one or two prospective club owners off him.’
Liverpool’s primary target to replace Klopp was former midfielder Xabi Alonso but the current Bayer Leverkusen boss confirmed last week that he would be staying on at Bayer Leverkusen beyond the summer.
In the wake of that news, the Premier League leaders have now reportedly placed Sporting boss Ruben Amorim at the top of their shortlist to take over the reins at Anfield.
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The 39-year-old has a £12.8million release clause in his contract, which runs until 2026, and currently has Sporting one point clear at the top of the Primeira Liga table.
Amorim has largely remained tight-lipped over speculation linking him with the Liverpool job but said this week that he ‘can’t guarantee’ he will still be in charge of the Portuguese club next season.
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