Albion chasing bigger fee for Oliver Norwood as Hull are rebuffed again

The Seagulls have rejected Hull’s latest offer for the Northern Ireland international.

Norwood is keen to be reunited with his old boss Nigel Adkins, who signed him for Reading, but The Argus understands Hull’s latest offer fell well short of Albion’s valuation. Albion rejected a combined bid earlier this month from Hull for Norwood and Czech winger Jiri Skalak, who is on the verge of completing a move to Millwall.

Striker Sam Baldock joined Reading earlier this week and Niki Maenpaa, Albion’s third-choice goalkeeper last season, yesterday signed a one-year contract with Bristol City after impressing on trial.

Tim Krul, Albion’s No.2 keeper in the Premier League, agreed a two-year deal with Norwich earlier this month.

Bristol boss Lee Johnson said of Finnish international Maenpaa: “Niki has really impressed us during his trial period.

“He has the technical and personable skills to fit in nicely to this squad.

“He has spent a couple of seasons in the shadows and now he’s hungry to prove himself as a top goalkeeper.”

Meanwhile, Albion manager Chris Hughton will field a line-up close to his Premier League starting XI in tomorrow night’s final friendly against Nantes at the Amex (7.45pm).

Hughton said: “It will be a mixture but generally that last game tends to be close to your team.

“That will be the same with most teams unless you’ve had a lot of injuries or players away.”

Hughton is satisfied with the Seagulls’ pre-season preparations, apart from a shortage of goals.

“There are always things you want more of,” he said. "Probably we could have scored more goals in this pre-season period, but it’s about trying to formulate as much as you can and it will be about the start of the season.

“I would have liked to have seen more goals, but ultimately it’s about that first game.”

Albion launch their second campaign in the top flight at Watford on August 11.