The clash between the midfielder Albion wanted and the one they eventually signed adds an intriguing dimension to Middlesbrough's visit to the Amex today.

The early evidence suggests the Seagulls have got better value for money by landing Danny Holla rather than Adam Clayton.

Albion renewed their interest in Clayton in the summer after Huddersfield rejected a £1 milliuon bid in January.

Uncertainty surrounded Clayton's future once it became clear Middlesbrough were in pole position to buy him.

It was a complicated financial package, involving Boro midfielder Jacob Butterfield going in the opposite direction.

The situation was clouded further by Huddersfield sacking manager Mark Robins at the start of the season.

Clayton twice reportedly failed to show up for a medical in the North-East, fuelling suggestions he was undecided about whether to choose Albion or Boro.

He eventually put pen to paper on a four-year contract at the Riverside Stadium in mid-August.

A few days later Albion, out of the blue, revealed the capture of Dutchman Holla.

So who has emerged on the right side of the saga over Clayton's destination, the Seagulls or today's opponents?

The fee for Clayton, as is so often the case nowadays, was undisclosed but was believed to be around £1.5 million.

That is unlikely to be too far wide of the mark, bearing in mind Huddersfield's valuation of the player at the beginning of the year.

Holla, contrastingly, was a free agent. He rejected attempts by top flight Dutch club Den Haag to get him to commit to a new three-year deal midway through last season due to a desire to play abroad.

So much for the sums, what about the contributions so far for their new clubs?

Holla and Clayton are similar types, versatile enough to sit deep or operate further forward.

Holla has occupied the holding role for Albion apart from at Ipswich last month, where he was shifted to the right side of the midfield triangle to accomodate the inclusion of Rohan Ince.

He has not quite recaptured the eyecatching heights of an inspirational debut in tandem with fellow newcomer Joao Teixeira when Albion won 2-0 at Leeds.

Holla did, however, demonstrate the attacking instincts which yielded a total of 14 goals in his two seasons at Den Haag with a spectacular curling effort from just outside the box at Brentford.

He is also not shy about putting his foot in out of possession, emphasised by three bookings to accompany 16 he accumulated at Den Haag.

Clayton, meanwhile, has also featured regularly in the Boro side currently lying fifth in the Championship table.

He has been used deeper than Boro watchers - and perhaps Clayton himself - anticipated as their Spanish manager Aitor Karanka alternates between 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2.

Clayton and Grant Leadbitter are the sitting midfielders but it is more often the latter who has been bombing forward when the opportunity arises and who has consequently hogged the scoresheet.

Holla was relegated to the bench for the first time in the Championship in Albion's last outing at Watford.

He was introduced after an hour for Ince, whose failure to stand firm and tall in the defensive wall left the Seagulls playing catch-up in the 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road.

Holla, refreshed by the international break, is expected to return to the starting line-up today. How he compares with Clayton could have a significant bearing on Albion's quest for a much-needed win.

Holla v Clayton (league only)

Age: 26, 25

Height: 5ft 10 ins, 5ft 9ins

Weight: 11st 9lbs, 11st 11lbs

Starts: 8, 9

Sub: 1, 1

Minutes: 704, 639

Goals: 1, 0

Shot accuracy: 33%, 22%

Chances created: 10, 13

Pass accuracy: 85%, 85%

Duels won: 38%, 62%

Bookings: 3, 1

Data source: Squawka