Albion are still waiting for Andrew Whing to tell them whether he wants to stay at Withdean.

The Seagulls admit they have had “no dialogue” with the popular right- back, who is out of contract and has been offered a two-year deal.

Whing is believed to be interesting Leeds, who will find themselves without a right-back if contract talks with Frazer Richardson break down.

Albion boss Russell Slade said: “We have had no dialogue wth Andrew Whing but I have moved quickly to cover my options.”

Slade has already spoken to out-of-contract Northampton defender Jason Crowe though he also has other right-backs on his hit list.

Crowe is interesting several clubs, although Brentford have pulled out of the bidding to sign him.

Bees boss Andy Scott was keen to take the versatile 32-year-old back to Griffin Park, where he enjoyed a loan spell, but admitted: “He’s massively out of our wage bracket.

“I was told he’s getting substantial offers from other League One clubs we cannot match.”

Meanwhile, Slade admits signing a striker is a priority after seeing Lloyd Owusu move to Adelaide United.

But he has offered no comment on a report linking him with a £400,000 bid for Robbie Simpson of Coventry.

Such a fee would be the largest Albion have paid for more than 25 years and is likely to be out of their range.

Slade said: “I know of the player, I’ll say that much, but I don’t want to get into what we can or can’t do financially.

“A striker has always been on my list anyway.

“If you like, Lloyd going has hastened the necessity to bring another striker.”

Slade assured Albion fans they should not be worried by a lack of transfer activity so far.

He said: “We’re looking to bring the right ones in.

“When you do that you find you are competing with the more progressive clubs in the division so it gets very competitive but we are confident we will bring in the ones we want.”

Albion will play a friendly at Blue Square premier side Stevenage Borough on Saturday July 18. Other pre-season dates will be announced soon.