Graham Potter makes Neal Maupay replacement claim as £15m Nottingham Forest and Everton link intensifies

Maupay – Albion's leading scorer for the last two seasons – has fallen down the pecking order and has been heavily linked with a £15m move to Nottingham Forest or Everton.

The French striker, who joined Brighton for £15m from Brentford in 2019, has just 12 months remaining on his contract.

Potter admitted there has been interest and left him out of his squad for that reason.

Potter still has options within his squad in that area with Deniz Undav, Danny Welbeck, Leo Trossard, Julio Enciso and Evan Ferguson available.

Asked by BBC Sussex, if he needed a replacement should his striker depart, Potter said: "I wouldn't say need. We will always look at how the squad is forming and what areas we can strengthen.

"And if we can get the right player and right person then we will try. We are calm."

Brighton have already lost Marc Cucurella to Chelsea this window for £60m and Yves Bissouma joined Tottenham for £30m. Defender Shane Duffy also left for a season long loan at Fulham.

So far Brighton have brought in Paraguay teenager Julio Enciso for £8.5m and Levi Colwill, who joined on a season loan from Chelsea.

Ivorian attacker Simon Adingra also signed for £6m but he was loaned to Union SG.

Meanwhile, on the pitch today, Brighton dominated most of the match but Nick Pope conjured two fine saves and Kieran Trippier a goal-line clearance as Newcastle ground out a goalless Premier League draw at Brighton.

England stopper Pope racked up a second-straight clean sheet in Newcastle colours, thwarting both Adam Lallana and Solly March at the Amex Stadium.