Roberto De Zerbi drops Man United hint amid new negotiations despite Erik ten Hag call

Roberto De Zerbi is reportedly closing in on a return to management amid links to Manchester United.

The Italian was one of the candidates the United hierarchy were considering to replace Erik ten Hag before the club reached the conclusion to continue with the Dutchman as their manager for the next season. Ten Hag's future had been uncertain after reports before the FA Cup final claimed he was set to leave the club.

Prior to their decision, it is understood that United's co-owners met with other managers about the possibility of replacing him as head coach. De Zerbi has been fresh out of a job since leaving Brighton & Hove Albion at the end of the season.

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In addition to being linked to the United job, De Zerbi was also in the running to replace Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich and was linked to Barcelona and Chelsea. Journalist Fabrizio Romano now claims that he is a strong candidate for the job at Olympique Marseille.

The French side are thought to have sent a contract proposal and negotiations are 'taking place'. Marseille have been searching for a new head coach after their interim manager Jean-Louis Gasset retired at the end of the campaign.

When quizzed about his future in an interview with Corriere dello Sport, the 45-year-old admitted he would like to coachaway from the Premier League. He said: "I would like to go and coach in a country I have never been to. I would like to go and coach in a country I have never been to."

De Zerbi's departure from Brighton came as a shock to many after the club announced that both parties had decided to part ways. He guided Brighton their first-ever European qualification as well as their highest top-flight finish of sixth last season.