Mark McGhee today put a valuation of up to £2million on Leeds-bound Dan Harding.

The Seagulls boss is determined to get full value for his former leftback, who has agreed a three-year deal at Elland Road.

And that is likely to mean Albion fighting their corner at a transfer tribunal.

Leeds have agreed terms with 21-year-old Harding after he interrupted a family holiday in Orlando to take a medical.

They are believed to have offered the Seagulls in the region of £250,000 for the player, whose Albion contract expires this month.

That comes nowhere near the valuation put on Harding by McGhee, who cites recent moves involving other England under-21 players.

David Prutton cost Southampton £2.5 million when he moved from Nottingham Forest while Spurs paid Coventry a basic £1.1 million, plus add-ons related to first appearances, for Calum Davenport McGhee also referred to the joint transfer of Michael Dawson and Andy Reid from Forest to Spurs for a total fee of £8 million.

Asked about Harding's value, the Albion boss said: "I think he's worth a lot of money.

"He played more games than any other player last season, even with the circumstances surrounding whether he would sign his contract.

"He didn't always play well last year but he did at the end.

"If you compare him with other under-21 players who have moved on, like Davenport, Prutton and even the boy Dawson, who went for four million, he has got to be worth £1.5 million to £2 million.

"We won't get that from Leeds but if it ends up going to a tribunal then all the circumstances have to be taken into account.

"He has been at the club a long time, he's an England under-21 player and a lad with enormous potential and a big future."

Harding said "I am delighted to be joining such a big club as Leeds United. I have been at Brighton since I was 14 years old and felt the time was right for me to move on to further my career.

"The club and its size sold itself to me with Kevin Blackwell playing a major part in persuading me that Leeds was the club for me over the other opportunities that potentially were available.

McGhee will not be putting a new leftback at the top of his wanted list but remains angry with the way the Harding deal was done.

He said: "I've had no contact from (Leeds boss) Kevin Blackwell, which is a poor show right away.

"Worse than that I've had no contact from a player who has been at the club since he was 12 years old and who has been treated properly.

"The whole matter is a disgrace the way they have handled it.

"I've got Kerry Mayo at left back so I'm not losing sleep about getting someone else.

"Replacing Dan Harding is well down the list.

"The priority remains a centre forward who can hold the ball up."

Blackwell was delighted to add Harding to his squad.

He said: "We had been talking with him and the signs were good but you are never sure until the deal has been done.

"Dan is a young player with plenty of potential. He wants to develop his career with us and I'm looking forward to working with him."