Roberto De Zerbi compensation figure revealed amid widespread interest

Brighton & Hove Albion would demand a compensation figure of at least £12m in order to release in-demand head coach Roberto De Zerbi from his contract, a new report claims.

De Zerbi announced himself as one of Europe's best up-and-coming coaches following successful spells at Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk, while his stock has only increased at Brighton.

The Italian led the Seagulls to a club-record sixth-place finish in the Premier League last season, securing Brighton's first ever European qualification. They have been drawn against AS Roma in the last 16 of the Europa League after topping a group featuring Ajax, Marseille and AEK Athens.

Brighton's rise and their evolving possession-based style has seen interest grow in De Zerbi's services. 90min understands he is high on Liverpool's seven-man shortlist of contenders to succeed Jurgen Klopp, while he has also been heavily linked with Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayern Munich in recent weeks.

The Daily Telegraph report Brighton will command a sum upwards of £12m if they are to let De Zerbi leave. His contract is set to run until 2026.

In an interview with The Athletic, Brighton CEO Paul Barber admitted that while he would prefer De Zerbi to stay at the club, he understands why he would want to leave in the future.

"We don't want to lose him, he is an outstanding coach, probably one of the best in the world already, and that is going to make him attractive," Barber said.

"But I think Roberto loves Brighton, he loves the club, the people, the infrastructure that we have, and there is this sense that the work he is doing is good for him as well as for us.

"But that still means at some point in the future he may choose to take that skill base that he has elsewhere - we understand that."

READ THE LATEST TRANSFER NEWS & GOSSIP FROM AROUND THE WORLD