Alessandro Jacobone says Milan are working with the lights off on Brighton coach De Zerbi although Thiago Motta remains a solid candidate for the job at San Siro.
Milan coach Stefano Pioli is under contract at the Stadio Meazza until 2025, but growing reports from Italian media claim the Rossoneri are trying to get a new manager for 2024-25.
Motta, De Zerbi and Conte are believed to be the leading candidates for the role and Italian journalist Alessandro Jacobone provided the latest updates on the Bologna coach and RDZ.
Motta’s contract at the Stadio Dall’Ara runs out in June and Milan are also interested in the Rossoblu star Joshua Zirkzee, scorer of 10 goals in 26 Serie A matches this term.
“It is interesting that Milan are using a courtship tactic so that the player really feels the club’s desire to bring him to the Rossoneri,” Jacobone told Calciomercato.it as quoted by Sempremilan.
“This I know has been appreciated, but it is too early to say whether this will be enough. However, I know for sure that he would like to continue playing in Serie A and if he were to be paired with Thiago Motta, it would be ideal for a player to make the jump to a big team. Zirkzee has shown that he is not afraid of the San Siro and could do so with a coach who has exalted him, it would be a useful comfort zone for his growth. I also understand that Bayern do not want to bring him back home.”
As for De Zerbi, Jacobone added: “I know Milan are working with the lights off on De Zerbi. They do so in the knowledge that he wants to return to Italy. Let’s also remember that his deputy is Andrea Maldera, a frequenter of the Milan world. The Rossoneri want to try, but there are difficulties: there is a €13m clause, which for a coach seems a lot, but if you want to plan a future, you cannot stop at this negotiable figure. Milan will try.”
De Zerbi, a former Sassuolo coach, will return to Italy this week for a Europa League Round of 16 first leg against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.
He is a product of Milan Academy but never made his senior debut with the Rossoneri as a footballer.