Liverpool have allegedly learned what they will need to pay if they wish to secure the services of Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Roberto De Zerbi.
Jurgen Klopp's previously-unforeseen decision to leave Anfield at the end of the season has left the Liverpool hierarchy attempting to find a suitable alternative.
At one stage, club legend Xabi Alonso appeared to be the most likely candidate courtesy of the astonishing impact that he has made at Bayer Leverkusen.
However, the Spaniard announced last week that he would spend at least one more season with the German side, who are closing in on the Bundesliga title and attempting to win an historic treble.
Since then, links to Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim have only strengthened and there appears to be interest from both sides, with the Portuguese now regarded as the favourite to replace Klopp.
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De Zerbi remains in the mix
That said, it has been well documented that De Zerbi remains an option for a wide array of clubs around Europe ahead of 2024-25.
Bayern Munich, who had also been interested in Alonso, and Manchester United have each been credited with an interest in the Italian, who guided Brighton into the Europa League last season and has kept them in the top 10 of the Premier League table this time around.
Nevertheless, the 44-year-old's future with the Seagulls appears up in the air, particularly after comments made over the weekend ahead of Brighton's game at Anfield.
De Zerbi hinted that he and club chairman Tony Bloom are yet to get on the same page regarding Brighton's plans moving forward, and an exit from the Amex Stadium in the summer is a possibility.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, there is a release clause in place in the event that Liverpool or another club firm up their interest in De Zerbi.
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How much would De Zerbi cost this summer?
Romano alleges that Brighton would be entitled to receive at least £12m should a team wish to secure the services of De Zerbi at the end of the season.
Such a figure is only valid in De Zerbi's contract, which currently runs until 2026, throughout the next off-season, leaving his admirers with decisions to make regarding their next move.
A report in The Telegraph recently indicated that Amorim's release clause in his Sporting deal is set at £12.8m, a similar sum to the option in De Zerbi's terms.
As per Romano, Liverpool are yet to hold any formal talks with De Zerbi, while "internal talks" are still taking place behind the scenes at Bayern.
De Zerbi's current focus is on Brighton's Premier League fixture at Brentford on Wednesday, the South Coast outfit currently sitting two points adrift of seventh-placed West Ham United in the table.
Darren Plant
