ALBION came within a whisker of adding Matej Vydra to their pool of strikers at the end of the transfer window.

They held talks with the Czech livewire and his representative and impressed them both before Reading landed Vydra on loan for the rest of the season in a lucrative deal for his parent club Watford.

The Argus confirmed Albion’s interest in Vydra during the final days of the transfer window last month.

Vydra’s agent, Ondrej Chovcnec, has now revealed how near the ambitious Seagulls came to signing the 23-year-old, who helped Watford to promotion from the Championship last season with 16 goals in 41 games.

Chovcnec, speaking exclusively to The Argus, said: “I visited Brighton before the window closed. I met Paul Winstanley (head of recruitment). We had a very nice discussion, a very good discussion.

“I was very surprised by the facilities and had a very good impression from what I saw there and from the meeting as well.

“I spoke also with the manager. He explained everything. He was a very kind man and I had a very good impression.

“He (Vydra) knew about the interest. He also had discussions with the manager. He was impressed.

“They were very close with Reading and one other club. Finally Watford found agreement with Reading.

“Watford pushed all three clubs to pay as much as they could. To pay more than £2 million, 2.5 with bonuses, in my eyes is too much.

“I don’t know what Brighton’s final proposal was. I had a feeling from Watford’s point of view they were not favourites to make a deal, because they didn’t offer the highest loan fee.”

Albion had pursued Argentinian Jonathan Calleri from Boca Juniors and bought Elvis Manu from Feyenoord as they stepped up their interest in Vydra.

Chris Hughton’s trailblazers have won both matches since the window shut to pull five points at the top of the Championship, with five-goal Tomer Hemed joint top scorer in the division.

Chovcnec added: “Brighton are scoring, they are winning, they are getting points, they don’t need any other strikers.

"I told Paul also during our discussion why do you need another striker?

"You already have Bobby Zamora and other main strikers. I don’t want my player on the bench!"