Gus Poyet believes Albion have shown they mean business by making what has been described as a “strong offer” for Craig Mackail-Smith.

The Seagulls boss was last night clinging to the hope his club could yet snatch the highly-rated Peterborough hotshot, who was on the brink of a £3 million switch to Leicester City.

Poyet has always insisted he is only chasing the targets right at the top of his list at this stage of the close season.

Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony has revealed: “Brighton came to the table with a strong offer but it wasn’t anywhere near as strong as Leicester.

“West Ham made a very serious enquiry. I believe they’re still very interested.”

Poyet told The Argus: “I’m not going to say he is lying. But I think that shows we are, as I have always said, in the market.

“It also shows how difficult it can be. People don’t listen. Just because we have got the new stadium, it doesn’t mean we will be paying huge wages or £10 million to another club.

“Other clubs have three, four, or five times our budget, but, if we are going against Leicester and West Ham and being strong, that shows our ambition.”

Asked if he had given up on Mackail-Smith last night he said: “Have Peterborough said they rejected our offer?

“But it’s not in my hands. It is in Leicester’s hands.”

Poyet's handful of prime targets includes Kazenga LuaLua, who returns to training with Newcastle on Monday as he enters the final year of his contract.

LuaLua is one of several fringe plauers scrapping for places on Newcastle's pre-season trip to the United States.

Even if boss Alan Pardew decides he does not want to sell LuaLua, there is every chance he could allow him out on loan again.

Poyet said: “Unfortunately there is no news on Kazenga. We are looking elsewhere as well.

“But until the player goes somewhere else we believe we have some hope.”