Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi has played down talk of his future amid links with Manchester United.

De Zerbis's reputation has been significantly enhanced during his short spell with the Seagulls. The Italian coach led Brighton to sixth in the table last term and oversaw the club's first foray into European football. His attacking style of play has led De Zerbi to reportedly be considered for several top jobs next season, including United, Liverpool and Bayern Munich.

MEN Sportunderstands that the Brighton boss is of interest to the United hierarchy amid the uncertainty of Erik ten Hag's future at Old Trafford. However, De Zerbi has insisted that his focus remains solely on Brighton's current issues ahead of the final run-in.

"It's not a problem, it's part of my work," De Zerbi said when asked about speculation around his future. "At the moment, I want to be focused and to keep my eyes on the target we have and we can reach. I have the contract. The focus is on the pitch. I'm really relaxed and without problems.

"The problems are the injured players or the preparation of the next game because we have a very tough schedule. This is the problem, not my contract or my future."

De Zerbi is under contract until 2026 and his team are vying for one of a possible eight European places this season. Brighton CEO Paul Barber has recently spoken about the "challenge" of ensuring the club continue to match De Zerbi's ambitions

Meanwhile, United's focus remains on the outside possibility of finishing in the Champions League spots. Ten Hag's side are nine points behind Tottenham Hotspur in fifth and will look to close that gap against Chelsea tonight. United are also due to face Coventry City in a semi-final tie later this month as the club hunt for FA Cup glory.