Roberto De Zerbi admits two Brighton stars ‘deserve to play at another level’

Caicedo and Mac Allister are two of the Premier League’s most coveted midfielders, both enjoying superb seasons with the Seagulls securing European qualification this term.

Ecuador international Caicedo was the subject of a £70million bid from Arsenal in the January window and has gone from strength to strength at the AMEX Stadium this term with Manchester United and Chelsea also among his admirers.

Mac Allister, who also played a key role in Argentina’s World Cup success in Qatar, is another on United’s summer transfer list with latest reports suggesting he is close to sealing a move to Liverpool.

De Zerbi has not given up hope of both players continuing at Brighton next season and feels European qualification will help that cause.

But the Seagulls boss says the pair ‘deserve to play in another level’.

‘It can be the last game but I don’t know,’ said the Brighton head coach.

‘They can have the possibility to change (clubs) because they deserve to play in another level.

‘But now we can offer them the possibility to play in Europe because our level is bigger now. We can offer them one possibility more.’

Asked if a European qualification can make the difference in them remaining at the club, De Zerbi replied: ‘It can be. They can have more motivation. But they are very good guys.

‘When I work, I think for myself, I think for my club but I think still for the players because the players have one career, one life and we can’t decide for them.

‘I don’t know what Tony (Bloom, Brighton owner) can decide but if they want to leave, for myself, it’s right they leave.’

Brighton take on newly crowned champions City on Wednesday before seeing out the season away to Aston Villa on Sunday.

MORE : Manchester United admit mistake in failing to sign Brighton star Evan Ferguson

MORE : Brighton’s battle with Manchester City is a dead rubber worth watching

For more stories like this, check our sport page.