Formidable Brighton and Hove Albion team

The Seagulls could be high-fliers in the Championship if the team they are building fulfill their potential on paper, especially if the rumours of another coup, possibly a striker/hit man,  are true.

How's this for a possible lineup?

Vicente is back in Brighton

Brighton's Spanish star, Vicente, is back in town and, as reported by the Argus, the outlook is encouraging.

His agent, Victor Oñate,  said: “Vicente is not playing for money or the contract. He is playing for Brighton because the project there appeals to him and he wants to help them into the Premier League."

I'm sure every fan will hope that he does just that.

ARGUS STORY

Vicente not expected as training starts

The Argus reports that Vicente's agent has told Brighton not to expect the Spanish star to turn up for training until his dispute with the club is settled. There's a surprise, then!

Do Brighton and Hove Albion want Vicente Rodriguez if he doesn't want them?

There is merit to the argument that if Vicente is not happy with Brighton and Hove Albion, then the Seagulls should not force him to stay.

Yet, invoking the option in his contract to extend the original deal to beyond the end of the coming season is, as manager Gus Poyet has said, only sensible.

If other clubs are desperate to sign the Spanish superstar, then Brighton should be entitled to a fee, especially as Albion helped him through a difficult period with fitness and injuries.

There is no doubt that Vicente is an exceptionally talented footballer, and shone every time he took to the pitch, but if he doesn't want to be with the Albion, that might manifest itself in the way he plays.

I am hardly suggesting that he would not give 100 per cent as the true professional that he is, but an unhappy player is never at his full potential.

Do Brighton need him? Probably not. Anyway, the fee could go towards another talented play-maker who actually wants to be at the club.

With the new signings, plus more to come, Brighton should be looking at a minimum of the play offs – with or without Vicente.

Especially as it likely to be a golden season for striker Craig Mackail-Smith.

Vicente not happy with Albion

Vicente is said to be unhappy with Albion's decision to activate a clause in his contract that extends the deal to the end of next season.

The Argus reports that the director general of the star player's company in Valencia, Victor Oñate, flew to Britain yesterday and is expected to hold talks with the club today.

Watch this space...

ARGUS STORY

Vicente saga: will he, won't he, will he?

A bland, rather brutal, club statement about Spanish star Vicente has prompted numerous conspiracy theories among Brighton fans.

Albion say they have exercised their option to extend Vicente Rodriguez's contract until June 2013.

But Gus Poyet has admitted that an agreement has not been reached to bring Vincente back on to the Amex pitch – although he expects the former Spanish international to be training with the Seagulls next week.

Theories abound among fans. Some believe the extension is so that Brighton can claim a fee when Vicente is signed by another club.

The Seagull has even heard one fan muse that it is because Vicente's wife wants to go back to Spain and the play maker can truthfully say: "Sorry, dear, we can't do that just yet. I have to stay in England for another year!"

Club statement in full:

"Brighton & Hove Albion have exercised the option of a one-year extension on the contract of Vicente Rodriguez.

The former Spanish international signed a one-year deal, with a one-year option, when he joined Albion from Valencia last September.

The club has activated that option, meaning Vicente is now under contract with Albion until 30th June 2013."

Injuries

Although Vicente has been troubled by injuries, he played 17 league games for Brighton last season, scoring three time and assisting seven times. He was easily the best player on the pitch, which is hardly surprising for a footballer of his ability.