Albion have rejected a staggering £1.2 million bid from Third Division rivals Cardiff for wonder boy Bobby Zamora.

The Welsh giants wanted to team up 16-goal Zamora with their own talented teenager Robert Earnshaw.

But the Seagulls have told them Zamora is not for sale.

The offer was made this week by Cardiff owner Sam Hammam to Albion chairman Dick Knight.

It easily eclipses both the Cardiff club record and the record £900,000 Albion received from Liverpool for Mark Lawrenson 19 years ago.

Knight is currently on holiday, but chief executive Martin Perry confirmed exclusively to the Argus: "We have told Cardiff that Bobby is not for sale.

"I understand the figure to be £1.2 million, but there is no pressure on us to sell.

"Bobby is doing a superb job for us and we certainly wouldn't want to sell our leading striker to one of our League opponents. That would just be daft.

"We are also not prejudicing Bobby's career by refusing to sell him to another Third Division club, which is an important factor."

Cardiff manager Alan Cork, Micky Adams' assistant at Albion until September, told the Argus last night: "Sam wants good young players.

"I have always thought Bobby is a good player and we thought it would be nice for him and Earnshaw to score goals together. We thought they might be quite a lively partnership.

"Micky is fine about it. He is a realistic chap and we thought Brighton might need the money, but they obviously don't."

Cork said Cardiff would not be increasing their offer. They have now agreed a £550,000 deal instead for Lincoln's Gavin Gordon.

Zamora has taken the Third Division by storm since Albion signed him from Bristol Rovers for £100,000 in August.

The 19-year-old Londoner had a prolific loan spell with the Seagulls last season and his goalscoring exploits have caught the eye of Premiership and First Division clubs.