How much will it cost for Chelsea to 'buy' De Zerbi from Brighton?

Stuart Telford

• 4 Apr 2023 18:32 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has already spent more than €600 million on players and things are set to get yet more expensive for him as he goes in search of Graham Potter's successor.

Potter was relieved of his duties as Chelsea manager on Sunday following the Blues' 2-0 loss to Aston Villa in the Premier League, which left him with a win ratio of just 38.7 per cent since arriving from Brighton last September.

Chelsea have already paid Brighton significant money this season - £3.1 million for Potter and some £62m for Marc Cucurella in August, a world record fee for a left back - and they are set to send more that way in pursuit of De Zerbi.

READ: Chelsea set timeline to appoint Potter replacement

The Italian won't come as cheap as Potter did, either.

De Zerbi's release conditions

"The fixed amount to appoint Roberto De Zerbi is worth more than €10m [£8.8m]," transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano posted to his Twitter account.

"And it will NOT be valid during the season, only in the summer - as De Zerbi didn't want any distraction during the season. De Zerbi is fully focused on Brighton."

De Zerbi has won exactly 50 per cent of his games since becoming Brighton boss at the start of the season - better than Potter's 31.1 per cent, although that figure is across the Englishman's three years at the club.

READ: The STAGGERING money Todd Boehly has spent on Chelsea managers

Nevertheless, the former Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donestk man has impressed, steering his side up to sixth in the Premier League table, knocking on the door for European qualification with 12 games still to play.

"'m sorry and it's bad news for the coaches," De Zerbi said when asked about Potter's dismissal. "But we give too much importance to the coaches, because the players are always the most important people and I don't like it when the coaches are sacked because the responsibility is not only theirs."