Albion manager Mark McGhee revealed today that striker Mark McCammon's future at the club remains in doubt.
McCammon has dropped below teenager Jake Robinson in the forward line pecking order. He will be scrapping for survival with Maheta Molango if the Seagulls land a hold-up target man with the £250,000 won for them in a Coca-Cola competition by fan Aaron Berry.
McCammon blotted his copybook by arguing with McGhee at half-time at Burnley in April. He was substituted, made his own way home and did not play again as Albion secured Championship safety with a last-day draw at home to Ipswich.
That cost the Seagulls £15,000 under the terms of the deal which brought McCammon to Withdean from Millwall. Now Albion's unexpected cash bonanza from the Win A Player' competition could lead to McGhee offloading one of his current five strikers and McCammon is at the bottom of the pile with Molango.
"McCammon, Leon (Knight), Jake and Maheta are a certain type of centre forward," McGhee said. "Chris McPhee is different. He still has to prove he can play in the team every week but he's more of the hold-up type we feel we require.
"Of the other four something has got to give. Maheta is bottom of the list because he has struggled. If we bring in another one then one of them is going to have to be sacrificed at some stage. The order I would probably put them in at the moment is Leon, Jake, Mark McCammon and Maheta."
Albion are being inhibited by high asking prices in their hunt for a new attacking spearhead. McGhee said: "We have made enquiries about three strikers but have been quoted far too much money. One was quoted at £1 million which is obviously beyond us.
"I am also still looking for a wide left player and that might come from a loan."
The Seagulls will have to bide their time in the loan market. Chairman Dick Knight revealed: "I have been speaking to the Arsenal chairman about a possible loan and they won't be making those decisions for a few more weeks yet, so we have to wait."
Knight is waiting for Leeds to make an improved offer for Dan Harding, otherwise the fee will be decided by a tribunal next month. The clubs are still a long way apart in their valuation of the England under-21 leftback.
"I spoke with their chief executive last Friday and they haven't come back to me," Knight said. "I expect to hear from them in the next couple of days, even if it is to say they are not going to make another offer.
"They want to sign Dan on July 1. The tribunal process will be set up before that.
"We haven't set that process up yet because they may come back with an offer that I am prepared to consider seriously."
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