Albion have Cardiff striker Joe Mason in their sights, with Ashley Barnes poised to complete a move to Burnley today.

Barnes is on the brink of joining the Lancastrians for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £750,000, after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms yesterday on a three-and-a-half year contract.

The Seagulls have already added Jonathan Obika to their striker options on loan from Tottenham but they are expected to use the fee for Barnes and the funds committed to keeping him as part of a new contract offer in the summer to finance a replacement.

Mason is a candidate after finding himself surplus to requirements at Cardiff much like winger Craig Conway, who Albion want back after a successful loan spell.

The 22-year-old helped the Bluebirds win the Championship last season but has not featured for them in the Premier League this season.

Mason, a former team-mate of Barnes at Plymouth, recently returned from a loan stint at Bolton Wanderers. They are keen to re-sign him and Albion would also face competition from other Championship clubs for the £600,000-rated former Republic of Ireland under 21 international, who has scored 18 goals in 43 starts and 34 substitute appearances for Cardiff.

The Seagulls have decided to cash in on Barnes, rather than run the risk of losing him for nothing in the summer.

Leeds also wanted him but Burnley, currently second in the table, have been pursuing him since the August window, when they had three bids rejected.

The versatile Barnes, 24, notched 53 goals in 160 games for Albion, including 23 in 101 outings in the Championship and six in 24 appearances this season, after signing from Plymouth initially on loan in March 2010 and then permanently four months later for around £125,000.