BRIGHTON have suffered a blow after boss Roberto De Zebri’s transfer specialist quit the club.
The Italian replaced Graham Potter in September and now has the club fighting for European qualification.
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi has lost his trusted transfer specialistRichard Pelham / The Sun
Paul Hazlewood, Brighton & Hove Albion FCSalvatore Monaco left the Seagulls after the January window[/caption]
The 43-year-old, who was issued a red card in the defeat at Tottenham on Saturday, has guided the Seagulls to seventh spot in the Premier league ahead of the run-in.
Much of Brighton’s success has been down to their shrewd recruitment over recent years.
And De Zerbi moved to strengthen that department upon his arrival when bringing in his own specialist.
That man was fellow Italian Salvatore Monaco, who joined shortly after his compatriot.
He was installed as assistant to the then head of recruitment Paul Winstanley.
Monaco had previously occupied a similar role for De Zerbi with both Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk.
But a fresh report from The Athletic says that “no sooner had Monaco arrived than it became clear he was not particularly suited to the role”.
They claim that his “skill set and style proved to be less effective in Brighton’s unique set-up”.
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Now they claim that Monaco actually left Brighton once the winter market closed.
And the “decision was made between all parties and approved by De Zerbi” himself.
Meanwhile, Winstanley followed Potter, who has now been axed, to Chelsea in November.
He was succeeded by deputy Sam Jewell and no replacement for Monaco is allegedly being lined up.