Roberto De Zerbi has elevated Albion to another level according to one of his predecessors.

Chris Hughton says the club have taken “a giant step” in the last two seasons.

He has praised them as “a great example” to other clubs.

Hughton guided the Seagulls into the Premier League in 2017 after a near miss in the previous campaign.

He was sacked a little more than four years ago and is now in charge of the Ghana national team.

Hughton said: “When Graham Potter came in, (it was) certainly a more expansive way of playing.

“Probably for the first two seasons, the league position was not dramatically different to the seasons before.

“I think it was that third season where everything really came together and really clicked and that showed in the performances but also in their league standing.

“The new coach De Zerbi has come in and taken them to another level.

“Watching some of their games last season, not just the results they were picking up but a way of playing.

“Going to Liverpool early in the season and coming away with a draw but a game they should have won.

“Going to places away from home and showing a level of performance that can win games.

“It is a way of playing which is very expansive and very ball-orientated.”

Hughton, speaking on TalkSPORT radio, was asked whether he could have envisaged Albion playing in Europe.

He replied: “There were so many good things in place but to be where they are now, no, I couldn’t have done.

“What I could have seen was the club continuing to make good progress but it has been quite a giant step in the last couple of seasons, which puts a little bit more pressure.

“Expectations become a little bit more and of course values of players have gone up.

“The club have done incredibly well to hold on to the ones they wanted to hold on to and to get correct values for the ones they are prepared to let go.”