ALBION will loan Christian Walton back out to League One – once they sign another goalkeeper and he signs a new deal.

Wigan, Portsmouth and Peterborough are all interested in borrowing the Cornish giant.

Walton, 21, is about to enter the final year of his contract.

Albion rate the 6ft 4in shot-stopper highly and want to continue his education by building up more first team experience, rather than limiting him to a diet of development football and inactivity.

The Seagulls plan to sign a third senior goalkeeper for the Premier League following the departure of last season’s No.1 David Stockdale to Birmingham and the club record capture of Australian international Maty Ryan from Valencia.

Finn Niki Maenpaa, Stockdale’s understudy for the past two seasons, has agreed a new deal and is expected to soon put pen to paper.

Walton has accumulated 50 senior appearances in loan spells two seasons ago with Bury and his first club Plymouth Argyle, then last season at Luton Town and Southend United.

He also played four games for Albion three seasons ago, three of them during the ill-fated reign of Sami Hyypia and one at the end of the campaign under current manager Chris Hughton.

Hughton told The Argus: “The interest we’ve had has been League One. I’d expect him to go there.

“He is going into his last year. We are aware of that and we are keen on him signing a new deal. We want him to stay.”

The players report back from their summer break tomorrow for two days of testing before pre-season training starts on Monday.

Ryan was on duty for Australia in the Confederations Cup in Russia until last weekend, so the extent of his involvement in early preparations will be assessed.

Hughton said: “We’ll make a decision on Matt when he comes in, because up until Sunday he was still playing.”