Albion chief Steve Coppell is poised to raid his old club Brentford next week to clinch his first signing of the summer.

The Bees' Republic of Ireland under-21 winger Steve Hunt has revealed he is "80 per cent certain" to join the Seagulls.

The out-of-contract Hunt wants to be reunited with Coppell on a two-year deal but Brentford are refusing to give him a free transfer.

Hunt is hopeful an agreement can be reached between the clubs once Coppell, his manager at Crystal Palace and Brentford, returns from holiday on Tuesday.

He said: "I am 80 per cent certain to go to Brighton. I have given Steve my word I will go there once compensation is sorted out.

"I have told the Brentford manager (Wally Downes) I won't be going back.

"I am putting my case to the Brentford board as to why they should let me go for free but I don't think they will listen.

"Based on what Brentford have paid me for the last two years they should let me go for nothing.

"They want it to go to a tribunal and I have seen a figure of £150,000 mentioned but I don't know where that has come from.

"It is unrealistic. I imagine they will come to an agreement for about £10,000."

Albion face competition for Hunt from First Division Walsall but the lure of playing for Coppell again and the fact that he lives close to the Sussex border will persuade him to stay in Division Two.

"Walsall have shown interest and it has got a lot stronger since Monday," said Hunt. "Division One football would favour them but Steve Coppell favours Brighton.

"He was at Crystal Palace when I was there and then he revitalised my career when he took me to Brentford.

"I live just past East Grinstead at Caterham, so it would suit me to go to Brighton rather than the West Midlands, and I don't think personal terms will be a problem."

Hunt, on target ten times in 50 games for Brentford last season, has already spoken to former Albion loan signings Steve Sidwell and Graham Barrett, colleagues with Brentford and the Eire under-21's respectively.

"Graham said Brighton are a massive club with huge potential and Siddy was complimentary as well."

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