Albion No. 2 Nathan Jones has reiterated the club’s desire to keep the squad together during the January transfer window.

Gus Poyet’s Sunderland have made bids for Liam Bridcutt and Will Buckley, while Burnley have made an offer for Ashley Barnes.

Further hamstring trouble, which has ruled Buckley out until the end of the month, could affect whether the Premier League’s bottom club increase their £1.75 million bid for the winger.

The Black Cats are, however, expected to pursue their interest in Bridcutt after offering £2 million for the defensive midfielder.

Burnley, currently second in the Championship, are also expected to increase their £750,000 bid for striker Barnes.

Sean Dyche’s automatic promotion-chasers want him as back-up and competition for the prolific Danny Ings and former Albion loan striker Sam Vokes, who signed a new long-term contract yesterday.

But Jones said of Albion’s in-demand trio: “They are Brighton players. We are immensely proud of our squad.

“We’re looking to progress and get to where we want to be and we need our good players for that.”

Albion return to Championship action at home to Birmingham on Saturday with only one place and goal difference dividing Oscar Garcia's in-form side from a play-off spot after the 1-0 FA Cup victory against Reading at The Amex stretched their recent run to one defeat in seven matches.

Jones said: “We’d like to be slightly more clinical but we realise performance levels are important as well.

“We’re in a decent place. We’re relatively happy with where we are and sides we come up against know they are going to have to defend well against us, because anyone can see we are creating enough chances to win.”