ALBION are on course to complete the capture of South African player of the season Percy Tau.

The Argus understands the Seagulls are making progress to finally seal a deal with his club Mamelodi Sundowns and to secure a work permit for the 24-year-old attacker.

Tau's employers issued a statement yesterday afternoon which cleared the way for his switch to the Amex.

The statement said: "Mamelodi Sundowns is pleased to announce that the President of Mamelodi Sundowns Dr. Patrice Motsepe gave instructions to the Management to finalize the deal with Brighton & Hove Albion FC after Percy Tau and his agent came to see him and apologised for disclosing confidential information to the media and for Percy Tau not reporting for training."

The fall-out with the president threatened Tau's hopes of joining the Seagulls. The biggest obstacle now is likely to be the work permit issue.

Meanwhile, Albion will be represented at England's World Cup semi-final against Croatia.

Chief executive Paul Barber is attending tomorrow night's clash at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow in his role as a Premier League representative on the FA Council.

Barber was elected to the Council at the League's AGM last month at the expense of Chelsea secretary David Barnard.

During a former role at the FA he was heavily involved in England’s preparations for the World Cup in South Korea and Japan in 2002, when Sven-Goran Eriksson's side reached the quarter-finals.

Albion's first team squad will be split for friendlies at Charlton on Tuesday July 24 (7.45pm) and an additional fixture behind-closed-doors the same morning against Portsmouth at the Lancing training complex.