Albion have been warned not to jeopardise their special togetherness by rushing to sign Premier League mercenaries.

Seagulls boss Chris Hughton is plotting a summer recruitment drive based on quality ahead of quantity as he prepares for the top flight.

Goalkeeper and left-back are two obvious areas where they are short of players contracted for next season while Hughton has revealed a No.10 is top of his wish-list.

They have already been linked with several names in various positions but Hughton has stated any business is likely to be done later in the summer.

Now Brighton-born Premier League veteran Russell Martin has highlighted the challenges facing the recruitment team – and urged Albion to choose characters wisely.

Signings sich as Steve Sidwell, Anthony Knockaert, Liam Rosenior and Glenn Murray have added a lot both on and off the pitch in the last two seasons.

Martin, who made a club record 125 Premier League appearances for Norwich City and twice won promotion, said: “When you go into the Premier League, recruitment is key.

“When you are attracting players, you suddenly find people come to the Premier League for different reasons.

“With some it is for the finance, some will just see Brighton as a convenient shop window for a year before moving on.

“You want people who improve the squad but not to the detriment of that togetherness which Brighton obviously have.

“You want players who buy into that spirit they have there.”

Martin believes Chris Hughton’s experience can help Albion meet the challenges of the top flight.

He said: “You have probably got the bottom seven or eight where there is not a huge gap to the top two or three in the Championship.

“But each team has got one or two more matchwinners than you find in the Championship.

“Physically and athletically, teams can counter-attack much quicker.

“With the top seven or eight, including Everton and Southampton, there is a gulf, for sure.”