Happy Hughton Brighton breezy

PREMIER LEAGUE new boy Chris Hughton says he is ready to scour the transfer market to keep the Seagulls flying high next season.

The Brighton boss (below) has his eye on Everton midfielder James McCarthy but will extend his search throughout Europe to find the right players to keep them up.

Hughton guided Brighton to their first top-flight promotion in 34 years and admits already he is fearful of the Premier League’s big guns.

But the former Newcastle and Norwich boss, 58, said: “Fear is healthy. It makes you prepare – and if anything prepare better than you might have done.

“Even for us in this division that little bit of fear was something we managed well this season.

“We certainly will want to strengthen the squad but what I don’t think you can do is go from this division and disrupt things too much. We know the areas we need to add to and will work very hard to do that.”

Hughton’s record in the transfer market is largely good – but during his spell at Carrow Road, the strikers he signed ended up firing blanks. Between them Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Gary Hooper cost £13million while Sweden international Johan Elmander arrived on a season-long loan. Hooper, with six goals, was their top scorer – and Hughton consequently got the bullet.

He fired back after Friday’s 2-0 defeat at Norwich, and said: “I certainly think it’s unfair to criticise those players. What you need to have is a level of performance.

“There is no doubt in the Premier League it is far more difficult because you are up against good teams week-in week-out.”