Brighton's manager Graham Potter shouts instructions to his players from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and Brighton and Hove Albion.Brighton's manager Graham Potter shouts instructions to his players from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and Brighton and Hove Albion.
Brighton's manager Graham Potter shouts instructions to his players from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and Brighton and Hove Albion.

Premier League rumours: Brighton's rivals linked with eye-catching deals - Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Burnley

Brighton face Southampton in the Premier League this afternoon.

Ahead of the game, Paul Merson has heaped praise on Brighton talent Adam Lallana, arguing that the midfielder is a “proper footballer”.

The 32-year-old scored his first goal for the Seagulls since signing from Liverpool last summer against Leicester City on Saturday night, but also played an unfortunate role in Kelechi Iheanacho’s equaliser as the Foxes came from behind to win 2-1.

But despite his error, Merson still saw fit to hail Lallana on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday this week.

The former Arsenal man said: “I’m a big Adam Lallana fan. I think he’s a proper footballer.

“It was the best he’s played for Brighton, no doubt about it.

"They need composure. They need goals, they need a goalscorer. I thought he was outstanding.

"How many times have we sat on here and said Brighton have been really good but they haven’t won? This is getting really really worrying now, but for me, I just can’t see them going down.

"Anybody they play, they will give a game too.

"When you’ve got a player of his [Lallana’s] talent, you’ve got to take the rough with the smooth.

"He’s there to make chances and sometimes it’s going to come off and sometimes it’s not. You’ve got to have them players.”

But, as always, there is still plenty of transfer talk swirling around the internet this morning...

Here, we take a look at the rest of the transfer talk Brighton’s Premier League rivals:

But despite his error, Merson still saw fit to hail Lallana on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday this week.