The Seagulls are determined to bring in Paddy McNair this summer.

The Sun (May 31st, page 55) reports that Brighton are preparing another bid after their initial offer of £2 million was rejected by the Black Cats.

McNair was one of the few bright sparks in a miserable season for Sunderland as he scored four goals in 16 games with a noticeable improvement in midfield when he was present. However, injuries limited his involvement to Sunderland's detriment.

Chris Coleman elected to build the team around him near the end of the season as they went for an ambitious approach and it nearly worked with a number of good results, but they eventually crumbled.

His loyalty to the club is likely to be tested because moving down to League One could be a step too far, especially with Premier League clubs interested. Brighton could use him in a number of positions due to his versatility, but he is at his best in defensive or central midfield.

The Verdict

Losing McNair would be a blow for the club, but he doesn't owe them anything after being one of the top performers last season. They now have new owners who are better at actually managing the club and ensuring that they are able to replace him effectively.

McNair deserves to be in the Premier League and Brighton would be an excellent destination because they are a well managed side punching above their weight thanks to a talented manager in Chris Hughton as well as an excellent recruitment strategy which has brought in top players such as Pascal Gross.