Promotion hopefuls Brighton and Hove Albion have recently been linked with a swoop for Derby County midfielder Johnny Russell.

Whether Johnny Russell will be tempted to leave the iPro Stadium remains to be seen but he has been in and out of Steve McClaren's Rams side.

Brighton are currently second in the Championship table and keeping pace with league leaders Newcastle United.

Promotion is the undoubted aim after they missed out on the automatic spots via goal difference last year and fell to a defeat against Sheffield Wednesday over two legs in the play-off semi-finals.

Derby, also play-off semi-finalists last season, started the season poorly but have picked up and now sit just outside the play-off zone.

Derby have been rumoured to be keeping tabs on Yanic Wildschut of Wigan in case Russell makes the move to Brighton.

Here are 3 reasons why Brighton MUST sign Russell this January.

They need wingers

Russell

Brighton are blessed with talent all over the pitch but they are perhaps lacking in quality out wide.

Anthony Knockaert is exceptionally good but Jiri Skalak on the other wing is hit and miss whilst Solly March is just recovering from a long-term injury.

Russell is a fantastic winger at Championship level and would definitely improve their options in this position.

Strength in depth

Johnny Russell

The Championship is a long and gruelling campaign, as Brighton found out last year when they faded away a bit and ended up third.

You need a big squad to cope with lots of games and potential injuries.

Russell adds depth in the wide areas, where they are perhaps a bit light, and quality to that position too.

Cheap

The report in The Sun suggests that Johnny Russell could be available for a fee as small as £1.5m.

In today's market, and considering it's the January window, this is an absolute snip and a bargain!

Brighton should snap him up straight away if that reported transfer fee is accurate.

Brighton fans - would you like to see Russell at your club? Is he an improvement on Skalak? Let us know in the comments below...