Albion have two new full-backs on their shopping list to compete with Inigo Calderon and Marcos Painter.

Last season’s left-back loan signing Joe Mattock has joined promoted Sheffield Wednesday on a three-year deal. The Seagulls are also unlikely to bring Mattock’s former West Brom team-mate and Chile international right-back Gonzalo Jara Reyes back for a third spell at The Amex.

Boss Gus Poyet, confirming his hunt for two new full-backs, told The Argus: “The idea is to make every single aspect of the team more competitive, which means that I am going to try to find players that can compete and make us better and make sure everybody is on their toes.

“The more quality we get the better the team will be. There are players that look okay, six or seven out of ten, but then you bring better players and they go up to eight (out of ten) because of the people around them.

“They become more influential, which I think is a real possibility because of the way we play. I am convinced that is going to be good for everyone, including those thinking they are not going to play.”

Painter missed large chunks of the Championship campaign with hamstring trouble and Poyet’s assistant Mauricio Taricco has drited back into semi-retirement.

Jara Reyes had two loan stints with Albion, initially replacing Calderon as first choice right-back, but the South American is back at West Brom under a new manager now that Steve Clarke has succeeded Roy Hodgson at The Hawthorns.

Poyet said: “The ones that are under contract with Premier League teams we need to wait. During that time if we can get a player we want I cannot take that risk and just wait, wait, wait.

“It’s not a possibility, unfortunately not something we can afford with Gonzalo. I can wait for one option but not three or four.”