Brighton are signing Blackburn Rovers defender Shane Duffy for £4million which may accelerate Lewis Dunk's departure.

Republic of Ireland international Duffy endured a nightmare final game scoring two own goals and getting sent off during Blackburn's 2-1 defeat at Cardiff City on Wednesday

But Brighton believe he can put that behind him and replicate the form that impressed them during Euro 2016.

Defender Shane Duffy is leaving Blackburn and moving to Brighton in a £4million deal

A nightmare week ended with him scoring two own goals and getting sent off at Cardiff

Brighton wanted another centre-back as well as keeping Dunk but they have interest from West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland while Crystal Palace and Newcastle made approaches earlier in the window.

Sunderland see Dunk as a potential replacement for either Younes Kaboul who is close to joining Watford for £3m or Lamine Kone should manager David Moyes consent to a deal with Everton.

The arrival of Duffy is likely to accelerate the departure of Lewis Dunk from Brighton (left)

The Goodison club have also spoken to Valencia over Aymen Abdennour. They were also rebuffed in a £9m offer for 32-year-old Southampton captain Jose Fonte last month.

Fonte is on Manchester United's list of targets but United would ideally need to sell first. Marcos Rojo is not keen on a move to the south coast as a makeweight.