ALBION are pushing the boat out in a bid to complete the capture of Danny Cullip.

The young central defender from Brentford will be the Seagulls' biggest buy for three years and one of their top wage earners if his loan move becomes permanent.

The Argus revealed last Friday that the clubs have agreed a £50,000 fee for Cullip.

Manager Micky Adams and chairman Dick Knight met Cullip's agent, Mel Stein, yesterday afternoon to thrash out the player's personal terms.

Adams said: "We have made him a decent offer which would put him on a par with our top wage earners and we are waiting for an answer."

Cullip's fee would be the most Albion have paid for a player since Jason Peake arrived from Rochdale for an £80,000 downpayment in the summer of 1996.

Adams' tenth permanent signing would raise his total spending to £115,000 after taking charge in April.

He has also introduced Chris Wilder and Aidan Newhouse on short-term contracts and Warren Aspinall in a loan swap from Colchester involving Andy Arnott.

The Cullip deal will push Adams beyond his budget. "For Dick and the Board to open it up again shows how committed they are," he said.

This Saturday's game against lowly York at Withdean is the last of Cullip's month on loan from Brentford.

The 23-year-old, signed by Adams both at Fulham and Brentford, has been the backbone of two wins, a draw and a hat-trick of clean sheets which have lifted the Seagulls to sixth since he scored on his debut in the home defeat by Chester.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.