Albion have assured fans they have no intention of selling Lewis Dunk – after turning down an offer for their centre-back.

Chief executive Paul Barber confirmed the Seagulls “firmly rejected” a bid for the 24–year-old, who has been linked with Premier League clubs since the end of the season.

Albion are not revealing how much the bid was for or from whom.

Crystal Palace were reported to have seen an offer of £5million knocked back and other clubs, including Everton and relegated Newcastle, have been linked with Dunk’s services.

Albion’s stance is in line with that they took early last season, when they turned down four offers from Fulham, the last of them in excess of £5 million, for the same player.

Barber told The Argus: “We have received a bid for Lewis Dunk and it has been very firmly rejected without any discussion.

“We are very busy assembling – and soon we will be preparing – our squad for another attempt at securing promotion to the Premier League, our key ambition, so we have no intention of selling Lewis who has been, and remains, a key part of our squad.”

It is feasible Albion could be tempted to part with the Brighton-born No.5 if a bid came in which made eminent financial sense to accept.

But they made their intentions clear over Dunk last summer when persistently rebuffing Fulham’s interest and ultimately agreeing a new contract with the player which runs until the summer of 2020.

The Seagulls released Gordon Greer at the end of last season and will be keen to have four senior centre-backs in their squad after seeing resources in that area stretched to the limit during the play-offs.