ALBION have made a bid to buy on-loan Italian striker Lorenzo Pinamonte.

Manager Micky Adams put a verbal offer to Bristol City boss Tony Pulis yesterday.

But it does not match Bristol's six-figure valuation and the unlucky Seagulls face a desperate race against time to negotiate a deal.

Their hopes could be jettisoned, because Pulis is poised to be confirmed as the new man in charge of Portsmouth today.

Albion manager Micky Adams revealed last night: "I spoke to Tony Pulis and we have made a verbal offer to Bristol City. We are waiting for an answer.

"Our values are slightly apart, bearing in mind Lorenzo's contract is up in the summer, but at least we've had a go at getting him.

"It's complicated by Tony's situation. If he goes and, for instance, a new man came in, then in those circumstances I would recall all of my players

and assess them myself, so we need to get a deal done quickly."

Pinamonte is rated doubtful by Adams for tomorrow's sell-out clash against Leyton Orient at Withdean, which marks the end of his month with Albion.

The former Foggia forward scored twice in the last home game against Exeter, but a slight hamstring injury sustained at Rochdale last Saturday ruled him out of Tuesday's unfortunate Auto Windscreens Shield exit at Bournemouth.

Adams said: "Pinamonte is a major doubt. He hasn't trained."

Gary Hart, who endured an unhappy trial with Orient before turning pro with the Seagulls, is also a doubt after picking up a groin injury at Bournemouth.

Orient are next-to-bottom, but Adams warns not too much should be read into that at this stage.

"Tables don't lie - at the end of the season," he said.

"They still have most of the players who got to the play-off final last season and, very much like ourselves at the moment, are a club that should be doing better."

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