Gus: no Piquionne deal

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Gus Poyet has refuted suggestions that he is set to tie up a deal for West Ham outcast Freddie Piquionne.

33-year-old Piquionne, who has spent pre-season featuring for the development squad at luxurious venues such as Grays and Thurrock having been dropped from the first team picture has been linked with a string of Championship clubs in recent weeks.

Brighton were one of those strongly linked with a move for the former French international. But Poyet dismissed reports that a deal had been struck with the Hammers when questioned following last night's goalless draw against Cardiff City.

"I need a striker; I’ve been asking for the person that is going to put the ball in the net when you have got the chance," he said. "But we are not close enough to getting one.

"I keep seeing clubs buying strikers and bringing players from the Premiership and paying fortunes but we are at another level - that is clear. We will try to do our best, but quality is expensive.

"The loans we want to bring in are Premiership loans but they are too expensive. I have been in touch with many clubs but I accept the situation and the budget we’ve got."