Albion are ready to rebuff offers for star defender Lewis Dunk – especially from potential promotion rivals.

The Seagulls have rejected one bid from an ambitious Championship outfit for their centre-back and are aware of strong interest in him from elsewhere in the division.

They may be tempted to part company with the 23-year-old under certain circumstances.

But it would probably take a life-changing opportunity for the player with an established Premier League club – and a deal the Seagulls see as favourable for themselves financially – to sway them.

Albion have set their sights on a return to the upper echelons of the division after a season of struggle.

A successful summer transfer window is central to that plan.

Which means, as well as retaining key players, they are determined not to strengthen potential rivals in the race for Championship honours.

Fulham have been linked with a £750,000 bid for Dunk and need to strengthen at the back.

Derby are rebuilding their squad after an alarming slide from top spot to a position outside the play-offs and are interested in Dunk.

They need reinforcements in central defence after losing the services of Zak Whitbread, Mark O’Brien and Shaun Barker and seeing Richard Keogh and Jake Buxton suffer a drop in form.

But the Rams are again expected to be among the Championship’s leading lights next season.

Meanwhile Albion striker Chris O’Grady remains on the radar of Sheffield United, who need at least one centre-back and a centre-forward as top priorities for the coming season.