Poyet gives Vicente the option (From The Argus)

Poyet gives Vicente the option

5:00pm Tuesday 17th April 2012 in Albion By Andy Naylor

Albion boss Gus Poyet will leave it to Vicente to decide if he wants to stay or go.

And he expects the Spanish star's decision to be affected by the Seagulls' summer spending.

Albion signed Vicente in a one-year deal just after the start of the season.

They have an option to keep the former Valencia playmaker for longer but Poyet revealed to The Argus: "I am not going to use any options if he doesn't want to stay, because he's too good and because maybe he deserves to be playing at a better level.

"Of course, sometimes a better level brings different situations for him as well, because maybe he plays maybe he doesn't, and he knows that here if he is fit he is going to play.

"We are going to have an agreement, a proper chat and we'll see. Maybe he will want to wait and see where we are going.

"That would, I think, be a reasonable option, to see who we sign and what we are going to do next year.

"Maybe not, maybe he wants to stay and he will trust this football club and myself that we are going to get the players to commit for next year."

Vicente, plagued by fitness issues for much of the season, could make his eighth successive start against Watford at The Amex tonight. Fellow midfielder Gary Dicker said: "You can see why he has played at the top level, got all those caps for Spain and Champions League appearances.

"He has been a joy to play with and hopefully he will be here next year. He has mixed in with the lads and his English is getting a lot better."