Defender Ben White is in demand after signing a new contract with Albion.

The highly-rated centre-back is poised for a loan promotion to League One or the Championship next season.

White attracted attention during a busy campaign with Newport County.

He made 51 appearances for the League Two club before signing a new three-year contract with Albion last month.

They could now loan out the 20-year-old again at a better level to continue his education.

Chairman Tony Bloom said: “Ben White at Newport played pretty much every game and did really well and there’s a lot of demand from clubs in a higher division for his services next season. We haven’t made any decisions on him yet.”

Albion are also weighing up whether to maintain the loan progression of Christian Walton after the goalkeeper helped Wigan to the League One title.

Walton, 22, has also been on loan previously to Bury, Plymouth, Luton and Southend.

Bloom said: “There is a possibility he stays with us, but there’s also a decent possibility he goes out on loan, probably to the Championship.”

Albion’s back-up goalkeeper and centre-back options for next season are currently unclear.

The Seagulls want out-of-contract pair Tim Krul and Niki Maenpaa to stay as competition for No.1 Mathew Ryan.

Uwe Huenemeier has gone back to Paderborn in Germany and Connor Goldson, the other centre-back alternative to Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy, is expected to attract an improved bid from Glasgow Rangers after their initial offer of around £1.5 million was rejected.