Roberto de Zerbi has claimed that Deniz Undav has told him of his transfer preference for this month.

The Italian confirmed that the forward would prefer to remain at the Amex Stadium amid  loan interest from a number of Championship clubs.

It was exclusively revealed by Football League World earlier in the window that the likes of Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland were interested in the Brighton forward.

Brighton earned an impressive FA Cup victory over Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, but an injury to 18-year old Evan Ferguson has potentially opened the door for the German to earn greater game time with the Seagulls in the second half of the season.

The sale of Leandro Trossard to Arsenal has also opened a door for Undav to climb the pecking order of the Premier League side.

"Undav is another fantastic guy and I spoke with him a lot recently,” said de Zerbi, via Sussex Live.

“He told me he would like to stay with us. I think he will stay with us this season.”

 

 

The forward has struggled for game time since making the switch from the Belgian Pro League in the summer.

The 26-year old has made just eight league appearances so far this campaign, all of which have come from the bench.

The Verdict

Undav could yet have a role to play in this side just yet as they look to secure European qualification, or even a cup triumph.

It has been a thrilling season for Brighton, but there is still a lot to play for even with injuries and transfer speculation surrounding the team.

Undav hasn’t quite had the impact many hoped he would, and perhaps a loan move may have been the smarter move.

But the loss of Ferguson now means Undav is likely to receive greater playing time, which may mean staying is a worthwhile endeavor.