Crystal Palace were today ordered to raise their bid for Liam Bridcutt to £2.5million after Brighton turned down an offer of £1.75m, plus add-ons, for the midfielder.
Brighton were not keen to sell the Scotland international, who began his career at Chelsea, and especially not to their fierce rivals. But Bridcutt, 24, is desperate to test himself in the Premier League.
Palace were also keen on Bridcutt’s Brighton team-mate Leonardo Ulloa.
Palace boss Ian Holloway wants to bolster his squad, with both Reading defender Adrian Mariappa and Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan, who is expected to sign for £700,000, due at the club’s Beckenham training ground today.
One transfer they have completed is a four-year deal for Huddersfield defender Jack Hunt.
