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Brighton transfer turnover in January will not be major, says Chris Hughton

Chris Hughton prior to the Premier League match between Brighton and Watford at the Amex Stadium
Image: Chris Hughton is expecting a quiet January

Brighton boss Chris Hughton is not expecting a huge turnover of players during January's transfer window.

Many supporters and pundits feel Hughton should sign a striker to boost the team's firepower, with Albion having netted only 15 goals in their 20 Premier League games so far this season.

However, Hughton refused to say whether or not a forward will be his main target during the early weeks of 2018.

The south coast club are currently 12th in the table and, when asked if a striker was his priority during the transfer window, Hughton answered: "Not necessarily.

"What we do have is an obligation to finish January with the best squad we can.

"We've done fairly well, we probably surprised ourselves a little bit with a very good period and then had a more difficult period.

"So anything we do will be minimal. The striker has been mentioned more because of the summer, and most people are aware we tried in the summer and weren't able to.

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"But any move for a striker would have to be right for this club to do anything."

Hughton returns to St James' Park this weekend when the Seagulls face Newcastle.

Chris Hughton, Manager of Brighton and Hove Albion and Rafael Benitez, Manager of Newcastle United greet each other
Image: Hughton is set to lock horns with Rafa Benitez again on Saturday

The 59-year-old managed the Magpies between June 2009 and December 2010 and, speaking about Saturday's fixture on Tyneside, he added: "It was the club which gave me my first opportunity to manage.

"And that's something I'm always very grateful for, it will always hold a special place.

"I've been back on a couple of occasions since and it's always enjoyable to go back there, but mostly you want to go back and play well enough to get a result.

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"It's still a difficult place to go, it's a wonderful stadium, a full stadium who want to get behind their team.

"Whatever problems they have had, they always get through it, and that makes them very tough opposition."

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