David Lee wants Albion to end 18 months of misery by paying him off.

The out-of-favour midfielder has been offered a one-year deal by Third Division Cambridge United after impressing in an end-of-season trial.

Now he is hoping to thrash out a settlement with the Seagulls over the year he has left on his contract.

Lee said: "Cambridge have offered me half the money I am on at Brighton, so I need to get paid up.

"I've got to speak to the club. It's up to them whether they want to keep me or not.

"I went down to Cambridge for a couple of reserve games and it went well.

"They are interested in brining me in for next season and I need to be playing first team football. I cannot afford to hang around."

Lee has not started a match for Albion since Peter Taylor signed him from Hull in a swap deal with Matthew Wicks in January 2002.

The former Spurs and Southend player was restricted to two substitute appearances in the Division two title campaign and he did not figure at all in the side just relegated from the First Division.

Lee was loaned out to Bristol Rovers three days after Steve Coppell replaced Martin Hinshelwood as manager. The 23-year-old later had a trial with Yeovil.

"It's been a bit disappointing," he said. "I didn't get a chance at the start of the season.

"I thought I was doing as well as anyone pre-season. I was scoring goals for the Reserves and I couldn't understand why I didn't get an opportunity."

Lee is among a number of Albion players whose futures could be governed by whether or not Coppell decides to stay.

The likes of Guy Butters and Geoff Pitcher are also still under contract but have not featured in Coppell's plans.

Meanwhile, Bobby Zamora has been named in the England under 21 squad for the friendly against Serbia and Montenegro at Hull on June 2 and the European Championship qualifier against Slovakia at Sunderland eight days later.

The Albion star is the only player from outside the top two divisions included in David Platt's 22-strong party.