Albion are set to send Ales Mateju out on loan once they complete the signing of the highly-rated young Czech defender.

The Seagulls aim to lend the 21-year-old right-back to a Championship or top-end League One club until January to smooth his transition to English football.

They are closing in on the capture of Mateju from Viktoria Plzen for a fee which, with additional clauses, could eventually rise to around £2 million.

The Argus revealed last month that 21-year-old Norwegian midfielder Mathias Normann, bought from FK Bodo/Glimt, has been earmarked for an immediate loan move.

Identifying at a young age, signing and then sending out prospects like Mateju and Normann is part of a long-term investment strategy now that Albion’s financial power has been boosted by promotion to the Premier League.

More sign-then-loan arrivals are likely as part of the programme to bolster the back-up squad and accelerate development.

It does not affect the first team budget and signing another right-back for manager Chris Hughton’s Premier League squad remains a target.

Mateju already has Europa League experience with Plzen.

He joined them from his home town club Pribram two years ago and previously had a spell in PSV Eindhoven’s academy.

Mateju has represented his country from under-16 level through to the under-21s.

The under-23s have a friendly against Shoreham at Culver Road, Lancing, tonight (7.15pm).

Albion’s academy have handed a trial to 17-year-old Maidstone United central defender Josh Dorling.