ALBION are plotting two more swoops into the transfer market as they prepare themselves for the mounting possibility of losing Lewis Dunk.

The Seagulls want to strengthen further Chris Hughton’s attacking options before the window shuts on September 1, The Argus understands.

They have rejected a £5 million offer from Fulham for Dunk – the third bid made by the West London club – as revealed by The Argus website yesterday.

The potential departure of Dunk to Fulham or a Premier League club has already been catered for by Albion via the signings of central defenders Uwe Huenemeier and Connor Goldson.

They will focus their attention in what remains of the transfer window on trying to land another striker and attacking player.

Three of Albion’s eight first team signings so far are attackers: Tomer Hemed, Jamie Murphy and Bobby Zamora.

Murphy could make his home debut against Blackburn Rovers turn to page 61 tomorrow but Zamora is still not quite ready to feature.

The best Dunk can hope for is a place on the bench again after being displaced by Huenemeier at Fulham and Huddersfield.

Albion, unbeaten in their opening four league and cup games, continue to stand firm in the face of Fulham’s persistent interest and have been attempting to re-negotiate the terms of Dunk’s current four-year contract, which still has three years to run.

They cannot, however, compete on wages with Fulham, who benefit from parachute payments, or a Premier League club, believed to be Newcastle, who have registered a strong interest in Dunk without yet making a bid.

Hughton has praised Dunk’s response to the fuss surrounding his future.

The manager told The Argus: “Lewis has been fine. There’s no doubt in any football club when things are going okay then that takes precedence over anything.

“It’s certainly not just about Lewis. There are other players, of course, not playing in the team at the moment and I wouldn’t expect anybody who is not playing to be happy.

“But when things have gone okay there tends to be a better mood in the place. These are the things you have to always work around.

“He’s trained very well. He, of course, is conscious of all the speculation, but the club have handled it very well and we’ve managed, I think, to say the right things.”

Hughton also brushed aside speculation yesterday that Derby County are lining up a £2.5 million bid for Dale Stephens in their wide-ranging quest to replace long-term injury victim Will Hughes.

Hughton said: “Again speculation is normal with a player like Dale. He is part, at this moment, of a midfield two with Beram (Kayal) that have done very well for us.

“We have to expect that speculation but it is what it is. He’s very much a player that we are very keen to keep here.”

Hughton does not expect Zamora to figure in the squad against Rovers. “Bobby’s very close,” he said. “Probably realistically it’s going to be more next week.”

Meanwhile, Albion are planning to send back-up centre-half prospect Glen Rea out on loan after Tuesday’s Capital One Cup tie at Walsall.

Hughton said: “He’s at that stage now where I think the next step is for him to go out on loan.”