Niki Mäenpää’s agent has revealed the key role of goalkeeping coach Antti Niemi in his potential move to Albion.

Niemi’s future with the Seagulls is in doubt, according to Richinel Bryson.

Mäenpää’s Amsterdam-based representative says he could sign even if Niemi leaves but the goalkeeping coach appointed by Albion’s ex-boss Sami Hyypia is a big influence on his fellow Finn.

The Argus revealed earlier this week that Finnish international Mäenpää, currently with Dutch second division club VVV-Venlo, is a target for Albion to compete with first choice David Stockdale next season so that highly-rated teenager Christian Walton can be loaned out to gain more experience.

Mäenpää was first linked with Albion last summer when Hyypia was appointed manager. Hyypia quit in December but his goalkeeping coach Niemi, who played for Fulham and Southampton, has stayed under Chris Hughton.

Bryson told The Argus: “We have a slight problem. Niki’s story has been playing for a long while with Brighton, for months now, but last year we also had a chat.

“We had some conversations with people in-between the club and us but Antti was there then. Antti will probably leave Brighton. He is not sure whether he will remain.

“We are not sure and this is what we are waiting on. We are keen to see what the club is going to do.

“It’s not dependent on whether Antti is staying. Antti knows Niki perfectly because he was his coach in Finland and up to now he would be his coach at Brighton.

“But we don’t know what the future is going to bring, so this is something we have to anticipate.”

The 30-year-old Mäenpää’s three-year deal with Venlo is about to expire.

Bryson said: “Niki is certainly a very ambitious person. He is what we call in Holland an active goalkeeper, so if necessary he can also play with his feet.

“The reason he has been with VVV still in the second division is that they were relegated two years ago. He had a very good salary and they didn’t want him to leave because they’ve tried to get up again.

“But, seeing as his contract is ending, he is looking forward to a new adventure and Antti has explained to him about Brighton and everything. Niki sees it as an opportunity to get into the English League and, of course, Brighton are interested.

“There are also other English teams interested in him, not just Brighton. But Brighton have stayed in contact with me.

“Right up to yesterday (Thursday) I had contact with someone at Brighton, so they are very active in trying to get Niki to come over. It was someone high up in the club but I don’t want to mention names.

“Obviously there is going to be a competitive fight between the No.1 and No.2. I don’t think it would be fair to come in as the No. 1 but he’s very confident. He would accept the fight, that is the type of person he is.

“There are two Championship clubs and one Premier League team (also interested).

“I think it would be 50-50. It depends on who the goalkeeping coach will be.

“If Antti remained as the goalkeeping coach it would be to his (Mäenpää’s) advantage. That would make things a little easier but it also depends on who the future goalkeeping coach might be. It depends also on want the club wants.”

The Argus revealed on Tuesday that two top flight Dutch clubs, FC Utrecht and Europa League-bound Vitesse Arnhem, have made contract offers to Mäenpää, who becomes a free agent on June 1.

Bryson said: “That’s correct. England is his No.1 choice. We’ve made that perfectly clear to the Dutch clubs.

“Brighton have the advantage, because they have been interested for quite some time and Antti is the goalkeeping coach.

“We know Brighton, we know the area. It’s a beautiful place, an historic place.

“Niki has a girlfriend, he’s very romantic, and he is very eager when it comes to his profession, so if you combine those things together it would be great.”