Robert Sanchez sent Newcastle United transfer message as Brighton star linked with move

Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Robert Sanchez has been told he should stay at the club under the tutorage of goalkeeper coach Ben Roberts. Former Gulls stopper David Stockdale, who worked alongside Roberts in a three-year stint on the south coast, believes there's no better place for the Spaniard to hone his skills.

Sanchez is attracting the interest of Newcastle United and Leicester City according to recent reports. The 24-year-old enjoyed a stellar season between the sticks for Graham Potter's side, having been at the club since the age of 17.

Brighton's number one boasted a save percentage of 72.1 - the joint seventh-best in the league - and is set to play for his country again later this month. Stockdale told the club's website : “Ben [Roberts] and I knew when Rob [Sanchez] was coming through he was one to watch out for – we had Christian Walton as well, there was a great crop of keepers coming through.

"But we knew with Rob he had the raw talent to go on and be a top-level keeper, he’s a great lad. It wasn’t a surprise to see him playing in the Premier League. He’s matured and really taken to it, it’ll be interesting to see how far he can go.

"I hope he stays at Brighton and carries on his learning with Ben, there’s no better goalkeeping coach than him. Ben and I had tried to work together at previous clubs and it hadn’t come off.

"So when we finally did at Brighton he said ‘this is what I want you to work on, stay with me and trust me and the process’. It wasn’t always easy, I was 30 at the time trying to adapt my style, sometimes it’s hard.

"But I trusted him and it worked. He’s shown with numerous keepers that he can help anyone improve. That’s why people hold him in such high regard.”