Roberto De Zerbi and Brighton have agreed to part ways after a hugely successful 18 months for the south coast club. The possibility of him leaving had increased in recent weeks, as his comments appeared to suggest he wanted the club to be more ambitious, and it has now been confirmed after the team finished 11^th in the Premier League this season. That followed a sixth-place finish last year and the club’s first foray into European football. 

Football betting sites have opened the market on who might replace the popular Italian, with Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna the early favourite, though whether he would want to leave after a second successive promotion returning them to the Premier League remains to be seen. Betting apps also think a return to the club for Graham Potter is on the cards after he turned down the opportunity to join Ajax recently. Other names in the frame include Nice manager Francesco Farioli, Southampton’s Russell Martin and Luton’s Rob Edwards. Farioli briefly became favourite after McKenna drifted on the market, but it is now Graham Potter who is favourite to make a return to the Amex Stadium.

Fabian Hürzeler a Surprise Favourite

Despite not being in the betting on most betting sites just a couple of days ago, St Pauli manager Fabian Hürzeler is now odds on to take over at Brighton. He guided them to promotion to the Bundesliga this past season, and at just 31 years old, is something of an unknown to most English football fans. 

With there not being a huge amount of excitement around some of the other candidates, like Steve Cooper, Hürzeler would be an intriguing appointment. If the odds at UK football betting sites are anything to go by, it appears the job is about to be his. 

Will McKenna Leave Ipswich Straight After Promotion?

Given this will be Ipswich’s first season back in the Premier League since 2002, and they have successive promotions from League One and the Championship, it is likely they will be among the relegation favourites. As a result, it stands to reason that McKenna could be interested in a role with a little more permanence in the Premier League.

McKenna may also feel a sense of loyalty towards the team that gave him his first opportunity in management. Either way, betting sites have him as clear favourite to take the role at present, but there are reports that Chelsea could also be interested if they decide to move on from Mauricio Pochettino.

Brighton to Turn to Another Italian After De Zerbi?

When Roberto De Zerbi was appointed manager of Brighton to replace Graham Potter, who had move to Chelsea, not many outside of Europe or the Ukraine had much knowledge of his managerial exploits. He had taken charge of Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk but was unproven in English football, and the odds at new betting sites suggest the Brighton owner Tony Bloom might be willing to do the same again.

Nice manager Francesco Farioli had two spells in Turkey in charge of Fatih Karagumruk and Alanyaspor before joining Nice last summer and leading them to a fifth-place finish. He is a name that English football fans might have to get more familiar with soon enough.

Will Club Return to Graham Potter?

Graham Potter had gotten Brighton moving in the right direction after taking over from Chris Hughton, and they were challenging just outside the Champions League places when he jumped ship to the Blues in September 2022. However, it didn’t take long for things to sour for the Englishman, who failed to get his expensively assembled squad to gel, and he was given his marching orders before the season was over.

He has since kept his powder dry despite being linked with a number of clubs. Perhaps a return to Brighton is something that would entice him after turning down the manager’s job with Ajax. Odds with most football betting sites suggest he is not to be discounted at present.