Albion boss Steve Coppell is keeping his fingers crossed Steve Sidwell stays on loan from Arsenal for the rest of the season.

Sidwell is expected to turn down a permanent move to relegation rivals Stoke and the Seagulls' counter bid, exclusively revealed in The Argus on Friday Other clubs including Reading are keeping a close watch on the young midfielder.

Coppell said after Saturday's goalless draw at Coventry: "What will be will be. I personally think the level of his performance will almost demand Arsenal not letting him go because he has done so well.

"Alternatively, they are going to move him on and take what money they can now. There will, I'm sure, be a lot of people in for him.

"He just wants to play football. I think the more we take these kind of decisions off his shoulders and just let him turn up and play then we are going to get the best out of him."

Sidwell, out of contract at Highbury at the end of the season, said: "It's up to agents and other clubs and Arsenal to talk about that.

"I just want to concentrate on my football and give my all for Brighton at the moment.

"Stoke put a bid into Arsenal. I went up there and it's a great set-up and a fantastic club but we will see what happens."

Meanwhile, Sidwell's fellow Arsenal loan signing Graham Barrett is non-committal about the prospect of a permanent move to Preston, also revealed exclusively in The Argus on Friday.

"I haven't spoken to Preston, I heard from my agent that they are interested," he said.

"At the moment it's not really up to me, it's up to Arsenal. They offered me a contract and we are still negotiating about it, but if Arsenal want me to go then I've got to look at my options."

Barrett had a goal disallowed and Bobby Zamora hit the woodwork in the first half at Coventry in a match Albion controlled for long periods and deserved to win.

Barrett has scored once in 14 matches and Coppell said: "I feel Graham has got to contribute more in the box. He does an awful lot of work outside the box.

"His season will be judged on his goals and games ratio, which isn't too good at the moment."

Barrett believes his luck will turn as Albion prepare for tomorrow night's rearranged FA Cup third round tie at Norwich.

"I am sure I'm going to bag a hat-trick soon," he said. "I feel sharp. That's the way it goes with strikers, you go through a patch without scoring and then get loads."