ALBION have been priced out of a move for Portsmouth target man Dave Kitson.

Boss Gus Poyet is hunting for a hold-up striker to lend a hand to Craig Mackail-Smith before next Tuesday’s transfer window deadline.

Kitson, 32 last Saturday, is one of the players on an extensive wish list but the Seagulls cannot afford him.

Poyet told The Argus: “That is the problem with Kitson. In terms of a player to bring he would be great, because we don’t have anyone like him and he has played at the highest level.

“He could help us in many different ways but it’s very difficult. If you go through the target men in England, practically every single one there has been a minimum possibility of we’ve been in touch about but that doesn’t mean we have moved for anyone yet in terms of them being a real possibility.

“I would be very surprised if it changed in respect of Kitson. I don’t know what is going to happen with Portsmouth but wages? It’s a very difficult one.”

Cash-strapped Portsmouth are in turmoil again after Italian businessman Joseph Cala withdrew a bid for the club last Friday in a dispute over the terms of the sale.

Kitson, who played in the Premier League for Reading and Stoke, has scored 11 goals in 60 games for Pompey and is under contract with them until the end of next season.

Poyet remains optimistic about making a couple of signings, one or both possibly before the FA Cup tie against Newcastle.

He said: “Who knows if we can do any deals before Saturday? That would be amazing. To be able to play a new player against Newcastle would be great.

“We have got plenty of options listed in priority, based on the player, their availability, the price, the money we need to spend and the possibility of getting them now.

“That makes it a bit complicated, because there are players we would love to have and maybe we need to wait until the end of the week, which brings it closer to the 31st.

“Then, if we go through the negotiations with another and reach an agreement, do you wait for the other one you wanted more?”

Albion’s form revival has improved their prospects of landing players they want before the January transfer window shuts.

Poyet added: “I think we have got a chance. I am realistic, we know in terms of salaries there are plenty of teams we cannot compete with, but in terms of the way we play, the league position we are in, the future of the club and the latest run of results the situation has got better.

“That has helped a lot in players being willing to come to us, which is good.”