Brighton boss Chris Hughton admits that Celtic striker Moussa Dembele is the sort of target he needs to attract during the January transfer window.

The Seagulls were not able to get the striker they wanted back in the summer and are again likely to be in the market next month as they look to strengthen for their bid to survive in the Premier League.

Dembele has been touted as a target for Hughton, with media reports suggesting a bid of £18m has been put on the table for the Glasgow club to consider.

Dembele has flourished for Celtic since joining the Scottish champions after his contract at Fulham ran out 18 months ago.

The 21-year-old appeared 49 times in his first season at Celtic, scoring 32 times as Brendan Rodgers led the club to a domestic treble during an ‘invincible’ season.

He missed the start of this term with a hamstring problem but has returned to action and scored in the Champions League defeat away to Paris St-Germain last month.

Spurs were believed to be keen before he joined Celtic, while Chelsea were rumoured to be monitoring him last January.

Now Hughton admits that Dembele would fit the profile of player he wants to sign in January, though he is far from alone in that respect.

“He’s a very good player who has had a very good season. He is not our player he just happens to be one of probably 100 names you could mention that I probably would [want],” Hughton told Sky Sports.