Ingolstadt have confirmed they are fighting to keep Albion target Markus Suttner.

The Seagulls are understood to have made a bid for the Austrian international left-back.

But his German club do not want to let him go.

Suttner still has a year left on his existing contract at Ingolstadt with a new deal on the table.

They want him to help them regain the Bundesliga status they lost last season.

Ingolstadt’s managing director Harald Gartner said: “We are not ready to surrender.

“In the past week I had a conversation with my colleague from Brighton, all well, we respect each other.

“We will not let go but, if Markus refuses to extend the contract beyond the season, we know that he is our player until 30 June, 2018.”

Ingolstadt have already seen star No.10 Pascal Gross head to the Amex this summer.

Suttner is valued at about £2 million.