Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed he would 'love' to stay at Brighton after months of speculation about his future - and even suggested he could stay for 20 years.
The Italian has spoken briefly with owner Tony Bloom and is planning for more discussions over his future.
He has been linked with some of the biggest jobs in Europe, including Bayern Munich, Chelsea, AC Milan, Manchester United, and Liverpool in recent months.
'We're going to speak with Tony [Bloom]. I think I would like to stay in Brighton because I love my players. I love this city. I love my club, my fans,' De Zerbi said.
'I said in the meeting with the fans, if I'm happy, there isn't any club can bring myself to change a team but I want to keep my passion always.'
Roberto De Zerbi revealed he wants to stay at Brighton and is in talks with owner Tony Bloom
He has had a brief talk with owner Bloom but wants more conversations over his future
While not as shiny as their sixth-placed finish last year, De Zerbi has still led Brighton to a respectable season as they sit 12th in the Premier League.
They also reached the last 16 of the Europa League on their continental debut but were dumped out 4-1 on aggregate by Roma.
De Zerbi's overachievement with the club fuelled speculation about an exit, as did his comment in February that he was 'not close' to signing a new deal. His current one runs until 2026.
Brief discussions have already been held but he wants more extended conversations with Bloom.
De Zerbi said: 'We spoke for not a long time, 20 minutes, but we spoke, one week ago. I have nothing against Tony. I am used to saying the truth and the truth is difficult to accept.
'When I said this season can be important for the improvement for everyone, starting from the owner, maybe you understood it in a different way. It wasn't polemical (controversial), it was what I thought in that moment.
'It was to improve, because when I work in one club I feel the work as if it is my club and I work thinking to stay 15 years. Maybe I can leave tomorrow, but when I am working at one club, the passion I put in, the attitude, the behaviour is to stay in that club 15, 20 years.
The Italian has been linked with multiple top jobs around Europe despite a decline compared to last season
Brighton are 12th in the Premier League and reached the last 16 of the Europa League this year
'I would like to improve season by season, game by game, year by year and I always want something more, from myself, from the other people that work with me, everyone. I have a clear conscience, very clear.
'I want to be happy because I would like to compete every game with all my potential qualities in the players, the squad, the style of play, the quality of the players and this season, especially in the last three months, we couldn't do that.
'I think the squad we had when we have started this season, was enough to compete. If you can rotate the players, you can reach the crucial part of the season in different way.
'Some of my players like Pascal Gross, Lewis Dunk, Danny Wellbeck, Jean Paul van Hecke, Billy Gilmour, they played every game for three, four months. It's normal to reach March and April in the not perfect condition.'
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