Npower Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion are reportedly interested in signing Arsenal’s Spanish defender Ignasi Miquel on loan for next season.

The 19 year old, who joined the club from Cornella in 2008, became a familiar figure in and around the first-team squad last season, making nine senior appearances in total, including four in the Premier League, to add to his two FA Cup appearances the previous season.

Miquel has also regularly captained Arsenal’s Reserves under the stewardship of Neil Banfield, but has yet to experience a loan spell and such a move would be seen as highly beneficial for his development particularly because, despite his progress in recent years, he still remains susceptible to long balls and his decision making is still haphazard at times.

In addition, with Kyle Bartley back from Rangers and looking to stake a claim for a place in the first-team squad next season, Miquel would be unlikely to receive much game time at Arsenal barring an injury crisis of the proportions of the one that inflicted the club last season. Despite being predominantly a centre-back, Miquel also filled in at left-back for the Gunners last season, and it is understood that Brighton manager Gus Poyet would be interested in using him in that position if he secured the youngster’s services for next season.