Brighton boss feared reported Norwich City target Craig Mackail-Smith’s transfer exit

Brighton boss Gus Poyet has revealed he feared losing reported Norwich City transfer target Craig Mackail-Smith.

Poyet confirmed over the weekend the Seagulls had rejected an undisclosed bid from an unamed Premier League club for the striker who struck a brace in their 3-1 Championship win at Burnley on Saturday.

'It was very close. There was a moment when you get a phone call and someone tells you – I don't want to say who – they are going to do it and then you start to think 'Please no'.

'There was that tension all the time. Probably at about six or seven o'clock we just decided we were not taking anything but we didn't get the call anyway then so we didn't have to make that decision.'

Poyet, speaking to the Brighton Argus, accepts Mackail-Smith's scoring prowess could lead to further speculation when the window reopens in January.

'The problem is there is a value and it's very difficult to say no, especially to players like Macca,' he said. 'They want to play at the highest level so the easiest way for me as manager and the players is to get promoted together. You need to let people have the chance to play in the Premier League so it's very difficult if they make a very, very good offer, to say no. I'm pleased that they didn't.'

The Canaries were heavily linked with a move for Mackail-Smith but completed a season-long loan move for Tottenham striking starlet Harry Kane late on deadline night.