Brighton will have big decisions to make on which players they will let go to "bigger clubs" this summer, says former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton, as Albion prepare for potential European football next season.
"I think Brighton are a club viewed from the outside where so-called 'bigger' clubs can come and poach their players," Sutton told BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast.
"They are a selling club essentially. It's not what Brighton fans want but I think they understand the model.
"The concern from the outside is how long can Danny Welbeck go on for? Because he's had a phenomenal season so I don't think, for his sake, that Brighton fans want him to go the World Cup. They'll want him resting and recuperating and putting his feet up.
"But I suppose there are always decisions to be made at the end of every season in terms of bigger clubs coming in for players and who Brighton are prepared to let go for a certain fee."
Fabian Hurzeler's side currently hold a Europa League qualification spot, as they sit sixth in the Premier League, and Sutton believes the south coast outfit will need the numbers if they want to compete in all competitions next season.
"I think Newcastle are a good example,” Sutton said.
"They are a squad that hasn't coped with Champions League football [this season] and that would be the worry.
"But if you're a Brighton supporter, that's the dream isn't it? Champions League football is what you want. There's always that worry in the back of a supporter's mind – 'is the squad big enough and strong enough to compete on the European front?'.
"People talk about the volume of games players already have to cope with anyway and I get that, but as a fan you want to be involved and have those journeys across Europe with your family and the memories."
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds here
