Liverpool have decided to not pursue Roberto De Zerbi and are now competing with Barcelona for Ruben Amorim, according to reports.

Brighton’s Italian head coach Roberto De Zerbi received applause from fans after the UEFA Europa League Group B football match against Marseille. The match took place at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on December 14, 2023.

According to reports from The Telegraph, De Zerbi is not a leading candidate to become the next manager of Liverpool. The Premier League leaders are in search of a successor to Jurgen Klopp, but their plans were affected by the news that Xabi Alonso will remain as Bayer Leverkusen boss next season. This led to speculation that Liverpool were considering either Sporting’s Rubem Amorim or Brighton’s De Zerbi, but it seems that De Zerbi is not the main focus of Liverpool’s search at the moment.

The Independent reports that Liverpool faces competition from Barcelona for the signature of Rubem Amorim. With Alonso committing to Leverkusen, both Bayern Munich and Liverpool have turned their attention elsewhere. Amorim has emerged as a top contender to replace Klopp at Liverpool, but with Xavi leaving Barcelona at the end of the season, the Sporting boss is also a wanted man by the Spanish club.

In other news, Sir Dave Brailsford, Ineos’ director of sport, held one-on-one meetings with Manchester United players this week. Brailsford is tasked with rejuvenating the club after Ineos’ investment. The meetings covered a range of topics and issues, but were not related to the future of manager Erik ten Hag. The talks have left players feeling optimistic about the future with Ineos now in charge of football operations.

Manchester United is also exploring alternatives to Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. Despite the club still finalizing some senior roles at board level, they are making transfer plans for the summer. The club has scouted options beyond Branthwaite, including Boca Juniors defender Aaron Anselmino and Mikayil Faye, a Senegal defender who plays for Barcelona B.

Overall, there are interesting developments in the managerial searches of Liverpool and Manchester United, as well as potential transfer targets for both clubs. Fans will be eagerly awaiting further updates as the summer approaches.