Tony Bloom has built a reputation and a fortune on being ahead of the game.

He can spot what will happen in the world of football well before most.

So he will have a fair idea of whether any clubs will come in for any of his players this summer.

And he will know exactly what it would need to take that player away from Sussex.

Marc Cucurella to the east side of Manchester, for example.

The left-back (and other roles) is not the only one who might attract attention.

Yves Bissouma has already gone, which Bloom was certanly expecting, and there are others who will have impressed.

The transfer window is still young, as are many of the players for whom Albion will be looking to find new clubs on loan.

But a big deal involving Cucurella is the one we keep hearing about.

So would Bloom expect to hear from other clubs for any players – especially you know who?

Albion’s chairman told The Argus: “I am not going to speculate on individual players we may or may not get bids for.

“The fact that there is speculation and there is interest in a lot of our players, I always view that as a positive.

“It hasn’t always been like that.”

What he certainly knows is most players have their price.

National coverage of City’s interest in Cucurella has often mentioned the fact Albion will drive a hard bargain.

That is the reputation they have forged in recent years.

Bloom was asked whether he would have a price in mind should the call come.

It is a racing certainty he will have.

We are all guessing at £50 million but Bloom did not give any clues.

BRIGHTON CHAIRMAN TONY BLOOM GIVES THE VERY LATEST ON MARC CUCURELLA

Perhaps significantly, he DID say the wishes of the player in question, be it Cucurella or someone else, would play a part in any big call to keep or sell.

Bloom told The Argus: “There are less than three or four clubs where some of the players are not for sale.

“We have got to be realistic.

“For sure, if a certain bid comes in for a player and a player wants to move, the player will move.

“But we are not anticipating, we are not looking for our best players to move on.

“If it happens and we get a bid, then we have to consider it.

“Until that point we carry on and we are very happy with the squad of players we have got.”