BOSS Chris Hughton has hit back at claims Albion should have finished their transfer business sooner.

The Seagulls are trying to sign two strikers, a defender and another goalkeeper before the window shuts tomorrow night.

Some supporters have been complaining across social media platforms that Albion should not have left it so late.

Hughton told The Argus: “It’s not as simple as that. Also, we’ve brought in five players (and Izzy Brown on loan). A lot of clubs have brought in one, two or three.

“There’s a lot of competition. There are a lot of players we would have looked at last season that the figures are almost double now, so it changes. We’ll work as hard as we can.”

Albion have spent in excess of £35 million so far this summer and shattered their transfer record three times to bring in Mathew Ryan, Markus Suttner, Davy Propper, Pascal Gross and record buy Jose Izquierdo, along with Brown.

Hughton, who managed at Newcastle and Norwich in the top flight, said: “The most challenging thing is the level in the Premier League now. It’s got higher, athleticism, quality has increased, but I’ve not seen a jump in the levels (fees) like we have seen this summer.

“It’s getting the right balance. We have a structure at the club and the last thing we can do is put ourselves in a position where it’s not going to financially benefit the club.

“We knew it was going to be tough.

“One thing that never changes is once that window closes there is always a sigh of relief from managers and you know what you’ve got to work with. We want to improve the squad we’ve got.”

Arsenal’s 32-year-old French right-back Mathieu Debuchy is of interest to Albion, although The Argus understands he is not their main defensive target.

Securing another defender would be the catalyst for a loan move to the Championship for Connor Goldson.