Gus Poyet believes summer recruitment will be easier for Albion this year as he tries to add more power to his Championship squad.
The manager, pictured below, says he knows what is required following their first season back in the second tier.
The Seagulls finished tenth on their return to the Championship, fading from play-off contention in the final straight after winning League One.
Poyet told The Argus: “We know what we want, we know what we missed this year, so we need to make sure we improve in those areas. I think it’s an easier situation for me than last year.
“Last year the team were outstanding in League One and we gave everyone the possibility to prove themselves in the Championship.
“We have been in the Championship now so we know what we need. Now we have got the chance to make those decisions with experience, which is easier.
“For a lot of the time in the play-off final Blackpool were the best team but West Ham won. Why? Because of the quality and the power. The other two teams that went up, Southampton and Reading, were very powerful.
“We are going to try to get that power. If you mix power and quality it’s expensive. How we are going to do it I don’t know but we’ll try.”
Poyet wants to add five players to the squad. He refused to say in which positions but a dominant goalkeeper, fullbacks and powerful midfielder and forward are sure to be high on his wish list.
Targets have been finalised and the Seagulls are poised to step up their transfer activity.
Poyet said: “We want five for sure. The rest will depend if somebody moves. There are always surprises, like we had with Crofty (Andrew Crofts) and Benno (Elliott Bennett). You never know what is going to happen.
“We’ve had our last meeting before really pushing forward and making contact with players’ agents and clubs.
“We have been searching for information to put everything on the table, prices and contracts, then you can start moving for the players.
“Now we are in the position to start moving, which is great for me.”
Poyet has flown to Barbados to play in a PFA legends tournament for Chelsea alongside Roberto Di Matteo, Gianfranco Zola and Dennis Wise.
He played in the event last year, when Chelsea finished runners-up to Manchester United.
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