Paul Merson names 25-goal striker who Brighton 'need' to sign this summer

The Seagulls have struggled for goals at times this season – a point that was emphasised by their return of one goal from 52 touches in the opposition penalty area against Crystal Palace on Monday evening and their frustrating blank in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to West Brom.

By contrast, Toney has scored 25 goals by himself in the Championship this season – just one fewer than the entire Albion squad have managed collectively in the top flight.

And Merson believes that he could be ideal man to solve their attacking woes.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday, the pundit said: “Back to the same old story, sitting here again – Brighton played well, never won [against Crystal Palace]. It gets me worrying.

"You take away just how big them games are when you go to big clubs like Liverpool and win, you take that result away and they’re really right in it.

"They pass the ball, they look very comfortable on the ball. I would say one of the best passing teams in the league. They play lovely football, but they just haven’t got the end product.

"I find when I watch them, they get to 18-yard box, and it’s like, ‘Oh we’ve done our job’. There’s nobody who can whack the ball in the back of the net.

"They need a goalscorer. You know who they need? They need Ivan Toney. They need Ivan Toney.

"I know he’s playing in Championship and he's at Brentford – people say it’s a different league, and it is – but I’ve seen this lad and he scores goals. They need a goalscorer.

"That’s all they are missing from them being, I would go as far as to say, a very comfortable top half team.”

Toney was previously on the books with Newcastle United, but was allowed to leave the Magpies to join Peterborough United in 2018.

The 24-year-old went on to score 49 goals in 94 games for Posh before joining Brentford last summer and embarking on similarly prolific run of form.