6:00am Friday 10th July 2009
By Andy Naylor
Albion's bid to buy towering striker Liam Dickinson has been backed by a former Seagull who watched him hit the target regularly last season.
Dickinson’s agent has revealed Albion are close to agreeing a fee with Championship side Derby and that the player is keen on a move south.
That will enhance the chances of Russell Slade’s side making an impact this season, according to Kieran O’Regan.
The ex-Albion midfielder is a BBC Radio Leeds pundit for Huddersfield, where the 6ft 4ins Dickinson bagged six goals in 13 games on loan last season before further temporary spells with Blackpool and Leeds.
O’Regan said: “I can’t knock him. He did really well for Huddersfield. He is not the most stylish of players, very ungainly, but his record speaks for itself.
“He is a very confident lad. He takes free-kicks and he works extremely hard, closing people down and chasing lost causes to put teams under pressure.
“Everywhere he has been, apart from Derby, he seems to score goals. He probably went there at a bad time, when Paul Jewell was under pressure and it was an unhappy club. I think League One is his level and I think he is decent at it.”
Dickinson joined Derby a year ago for £750,000 after 33 goals in 94 league appearances for Stockport.
He is yet to make his debut and is well down the pecking order at Pride Park now that Nigel Clough is in charge.
Dickinson’s agent, Phil Sproson, said: “There is a strong interest from Brighton in Liam and talks are ongoing.
“The two clubs are trying to agree a fee and I don’t think they are too far apart.
“Liam wants to be playing regular first team football and he knows his chances at Derby will be limited, so he is hoping a deal can be agreed with Brighton.”
Norwich have already failed with two bids for Dickinson and familiarity aids Albion’s cause, given that his former Stockport team-mates James Tunnicliffe, Gary Dicker and Jim McNulty have all switched to the Seagulls in recent months.
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