Deniz Undav can play a part for Albion in the Premier League next season.

That is the view of head coach Roberto De Zerbi after seeing the Germany international shine for Stuttgart in the Bundesliga.

Undav’s carefully lobbed goal against today’s opponents Arsenal was one of his late-season highlights last year.

He also netted in pre-season and it is understood De Zerbi saw something to work with as a player.

But he headed to Stuttgart for this season, where 15 goals and seven assists have helped his side into the top three.

Reports in Germany suggest Stuttgart would love to keep him, although it is believed the fee would test that desire.

But De Zerbi suddenly put his name back on the agenda on Wednesday when he was asked a question about Ansu Fati after the 0-0 draw at Brentford.

Further quizzed about Undav by The Argus yesterday, De Zerbi said there had been contact with the player.

De Zerbi said: “Sometimes we send a message. I am very happy for him because he is scoring, he is playing very well in the Bundesliga at Stuttgart.

“We knew the level of the player. We decided to keep Ferguson, Welbeck, Lallana, Joao Pedro and Julio Enciso – and Ansu Fati on the last day of the transfer market.

“Ferguson is a big talent for the club, Danny Welbeck is playing this season very well.

“Joao Pedro was top scorer in the Europa League and is playing very well.

“We didn’t want to keep Deniz because we didn’t know the space for him.

“One year on loan for him should be important.”

De Zerbi’s comments about Undav appear to further play down any prospect of Ansu Fati being around next season.

At the same time, it conflicts a little with what has been said in Germany about Undav staying there.

Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness is hopeful of keeping the player and Undav appears to want to stay although one wonders how such questions were framed.

Hoeness said: “Deniz is an absolute top player who is having a great season.

”I have a good relationship with him, he's an intelligent player who scores and sets up goals.”

When that was put to De Zerbi, he replied: “I don’t know. I would like him to stay with us and I think next season he can play in the first XI a lot of times.

“He is improving. He is a different player to what I found when I came to Brighton.”

De Zerbi was again quizzed about Ansu, this time along the lines of whether he was disappointed the player had not responded more positively to the personal touch.

He was invited to watch Champions League football and enjoy homemade pasta at De Zerbi’s home recently.

By accident or design, the match they watched involved Ansu’s parent club Barcelona as they played Napoli.

De Zerbi said: “I want him to work harder.

“To push more and he gives his best, 100% in every situation.

“At the training ground, during the game, if he plays five minutes or 90 minutes, always in every situation without the ball, with the ball, when he has to shoot, when he has to score, when he has to defend the ball or try one-to-one to attack the space.

“Every situation, he has to be used to giving his best.

“One or two times usually per week I speak with him, (so do) Andrea (Maldera), Marcello (Quinto).

“We love Ansu, we love because he’s a good guy but we love because we recognise his potential.

“He is a different player but he has to show his qualities.

“I don’t know if the problem is the last injuries.

“I think he has to change his habits.”