BRIGHTON and Hove Albion chief executive Paul Barber has reiterated his desire to keep Burnley target Dale Stephens at the Amex Stadium.

The Clarets had numerous bids for Stephens turned down in the summer, but they could return with another offer for the 26-year-old in January.

They are likely to face fierce competition for the Bolton-born midfielder though, with Crystal Palace also keen admirers of the former Rochdale man, while Celtic have also been linked with a move.

Stephens is out of contract in the summer, but Barber has stated the Seagulls have no intention of weakening the squad as they target promotion.

"There’s no point in building a squad with significant depth if you then go halfway through a season and allow that to dissipate by letting people go," he said.

"We’re going to do everything possible to keep the group together as we did in the summer, to add to it where we can and need to, and where Chris says we need to.

"Hopefully the second half of the season will be as strong as the first and we’re in the best possible position.”