Liam Bridcutt has been warned he might have made a mistake as he heads to Sunderland.

The midfielder is expected to be unveiled today – in time for the Tyne-Wear derby – as Gus Poyet’s latest signing on a three-and-a-half year deal.

Albion are believed to be receiving about £3 million for the man Poyet plucked from obscurity in the early days of the 2010-11 season.

But former Seagulls manager Alan Mullery has told supporters Bridcutt might have been better off staying at The Amex.

Albion’s ambassador, speaking at a fans’ forum streamed live on the club’s YouTube channel last night, said: “We’ve lost the boy Bridcutt.

“I wish him all the very best but I think he has made the wrong decision. He’s going to go to a football club where they have got midfield players equally as good as he is and he’s going to find it hard to get in the side.

“He’s going to find it hard to play in the Premiership just like that halfway through the season.

“He would have been far better off staying at Brighton until the summer or even for 18 months and be involved with a side that looks as though they are going to win promotion or the possibility of play-offs to be in the Premiership next season.”