Albion's interest in Australian A-League midfielder Luke Brattan has been dashed by an injury.

Hopes of the sidelined Brattan coming to England for further talks have been abandoned.

Chairman Tony Bloom’s connections Down Under sparked the possibility of a return to England for Brisbane Roar’s Hull-born playmaker.

Bloom is married to an Australian and is based there frequently during the English winter.

Brattan had been identified as a potential target for the Seagulls but the injury has shelved their interest.

Brattan’s representative, Ritchie Hinton, revealed to The Argus: “He’s not coming over to Brighton. He’s injured so he’s not going to come.

“There have been some tentative discussions going on for a while. Tony Bloom has some connections in Australia.

“We had some discussions but it hasn’t gone anywhere because of the injury.

“We are investigating it now. It is not a broken leg or anything like that, just a niggle.”

Hinton has not ruled out the possibility of Albion renewing their interest in Brattan at a later stage.

The 24-year-old, whose family emigrated when he was a baby, is highly regarded in the A-League. He clinched the regular season title for Brisbane in March with a last-gasp strike against Melbourne Victory.

Hinton said: “Who knows? Every player wants to play at the highest level they can. If he’s good enough he’ll get there.”

Zigor Aranalde, Albion’s European scout, has been made redundant as part of a cost-cutting exercise and restructuring of the recruitment department.

The Argus revealed yesterday that Aranalde had parted company with the club.

Former head of scouting Mervyn Day, now at West Brom, was also made redundant.

Albion have frozen matchday prices for the forthcoming season. Tickets for the opening game against Sheffield Wednesday at the Amex on August 9 go on sale from July 17.