BOSS Chris Hughton has brushed aside more speculation linking Albion with Celtic’s former Fulham marksman Moussa Dembele.

Sky Sports reported on Christmas Day morning that an £18 million fee had been agreed between Seagulls and the Glasgow giants. Celtic issued a denial and Sky subsequently withdrew the story.

Hughton said after yesterday’s 2-0 defeat at Chelsea: “I’ve heard reports. As manager of this football club, I’m quite sure I’d know. There’s been no contact between the two clubs.

“That’s speculation. There are numerous names that are cropping up, thick and fast. At the moment, they’re speculation.”

Celtic chief Brendan Rodgers confirmed: “I haven’t been informed about anything from the club. It is all part of the modern game. There will be interest, of course, but there is nothing in it.”

Hughton is keen to add to his strike force during the January window after Albion missed out in summer trading.

Chelsea prospect Tammy Abraham was targeted early but he chose Swansea instead.

The Seagulls tried to land another long-time target, Deportivo La Coruna’s Romanian international forward Florin Andone, but that was thwarted and Spurs’ Vincent Janssen rejected a move.

Hughton said: “Particularly January, what you’d like to do and what you can do can be different things. It’s a tough time to bring players in.

“Clubs don’t like losing players, and their demands are high. If we can strengthen, then we will. We’re a team who have just come up and we are competitive as a squad, and haven’t had many injuries.”