Arsenal would be ready to rival Inter to bring in Brighton and Hove Albion coach Roberto De Zerbi during the summer should Mikel Arteta step down as coach.
This according to today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, who report that the former Sassuolo boss is the Gunners’ number one contingency plan should their current head coach make a shock exit.
Despite only having joined Brighton in the fall, the job that former Neroverdi, Benevento, and Shakhtar Donetsk has already done in the English south coast has already earned him any number of suitors.
Inter have reportedly lined the 43-year-old up as a priority target if they are to replace Inzaghi at the end of the season, which looks increasingly likely given the season that the team have had.
It is reported that there have already been initial contacts with Brighton regarding De Zerbi.
However, Inter could find it difficult to bring the former Sassuolo coach in if they are to face the formidable competition of Arsenal for his signature.
Right now, Arteta is firmly in place on the bench in North London, considering the sparkling season that the Gunners are having.
However, whilst there is no chance whatsoever that Arsenal would sack the Spanish coach, it cannot be ruled out that he could decide that his work is done if he is to guide the Premier League leaders to a first title since 2004.
Accordingly, Tuttosport report, the Gunners have a contingency plan just in case the 41-year-old makes the shock decision to step down at the end of the season.
This plan, the newspaper reports, would be to immediately go after De Zerbi.
The Londoners would have no doubt that the Italian is the right coach based on his work with the Seagulls, and they could move to snap him up ahead of Inter.
