Albion's interest in borrowing David Nugent from Middlesbrough has been ended by a permanent move for the striker to Championship rivals Derby County.

Nugent was one of the options under consideration by the Seagulls to bolster their attacking options for the promotion push, The Argus can reveal.

Boro's preference for a permanent deal, however, was never on Albion's agenda.

Nugent, 31, has joined Derby for £2.5 million and been awarded a contract until June 2019.

The former Leicester team-mate of Albion's French star Anthony Knockaert and best man at Jamie Vardy's wedding has been a peripheral figure at Boro in the Premier League after eight goals in 38 games last season for the club that pipped the Seagulls to promotion.

Nugent has also played in the Championship for Preston and Portsmouth.