Albion head-coach Graham Potter is assessing his midfield options ahead of their game against Manchester United at the Amex on Saturday, but Dale Stephens may not be one of them.

The Argus understands that Stephens is likely to move to Burnley, but no deal has been completed yet.

The Clarets have made a bid for Stephens, who was not in Albion’s 18-man squad in their 3-0 win over Newcastle on Sunday.

Burnley’s interest in Stephens has gone on for years, after they tried to take him back to his native Lancashire soon after they were promoted to the Premier League in the summer of 2016.

Albion resisted their persistent approaches and Stephens went on to play a central role in the Seagulls joining Burnley in the top flight.

With Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Jack Cork out with injuries and Jeff Hendrick having left to join Newcastle over the summer, Burnley boss Sean Dyche only has Ashley Westwood, Josh Brownhill and young midfielder Josh Benson available.

It wouldn’t be the first time a former Seagulls player has gone to Turf Moor with Ashley Barnes, Chris Wood and Stephen Ward having all gone there after spells with Albion.

Potter will be without Yves Bissouma for the next three games after he was sent off in the 3-0 win over Newcastle on Sunday.

The 24-year-old saw his yellow card upgraded to a red by VAR for his challenge on Jamal Lewis late on in the game.

However, Bissouma’s suspension counts for cup games meaning one of the games he misses will be Albion’s Carabao Cup tie against Preston tomorrow night (7pm).

With Bissouma unavailable there is the opportunity for someone to come in and Potter has faith in whoever comes into the side.

He said: “Of course we are going to miss him (Bissouma) but there is an opportunity now for somebody else in the group and I’m sure that whoever comes in will do well.”

There are three options for Potter to choose from for that deep-lying midfielder role.

Davy Propper could be in contention to fill the gap and get his first minutes in the Premier League this season.

The Dutch international returned to the side against Portsmouth and played the full 90 minutes after recovering from an achilles injury.

Propper was not part of the 18-man squad against Newcastle, but he could well be in contention for the Manchester United game.

Potter also has the option of Ben White, who can play in a holding midfield role.

The 22-year-old played as a defensive midfielder for Leeds in four of their Championship games last season, when he was on loan at Elland Road.

On three of the four occasions he played there Leeds won.

Potter has already shown that White will not just be playing centre back.

When Tariq Lamptey went off against Newcastle, White moved over to right back and showed he is more than capable of doing a job.

White could well move into that holding midfield role with Potter having Joel Veltman or Dan Burn, who could come in and play in the back three.

The outside option could be that Potter gives Jayson Molumby his Premier League debut against United.

The 21-year-old impressed in Millwall’s midfield last season, during a season-long loan at The Den.

Molumby did well for Albion, filling in at right back against Portsmouth in the Carabao Cup last week.

The Irishman, like White, would provide a more young and energetic option compared to Propper.

However, Molumby has not got the experience of playing in the top flight like Propper, who joined Albion in August 2017.