Albion are being linked with Finland No.1 Niki Mäenpää.

Mäenpää claims to have held talks with the Seagulls according to reports in Holland, where he plays for second division VVV-Venlo.

He is also a target for Dutch top flight club Utrecht and says clubs in England, Scotland and Turkey have expressed an interest as well.

Mäenpää’s three-year deal with VVV-Venlo, where the Seagulls’ outgoing Latvian defender Vitalijs Maksimenko has been on loan for the season, is about to expire.

The 30-year-old’s name was first mentioned in connection with Albion last summer – when fellow countryman Sami Hyypia was in charge – before they signed David Stockdale from Fulham.

The club retains strong links with Finland through goalkeeping coach Antti Niemi, who was retained by Hyypia’s successor Chris Hughton.

Mäenpää won his 21st cap for his country in last month’s 2-1 Euro qualifying defeat in Northern Ireland. The former AZ Alkmaar keeper made his penultimate league appearance for Venlo in a 1-1 draw at FC Volendam last night.

Stockdale, understudied by England Under-20s prospect Christian Walton, has endured a difficult debut season, often coming under fire from fans on social media. The Seagulls have offered another deal to veteran Danish third choice Casper Ankergren.