Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs join race for Dunk

Sources in the north east reported yesterday how Toon boss Alan Pardew has instructed the club’s scouts to keep a close eye on the Albion’s centre back, who was recently called up to the England Under 21 squad by Stuart Pearce.

Dunk has made just 27 starts for the Seagulls but has already received rave reviews for his performances, having stepped up to the plate following long-term injuries to Adam El Abd and Tommy Elphick.

The 20-year-old’s contract runs until the summer of 2013 after he signed an extension to his original two year deal last year but Newcastle appear to be preparing a summer move for the local lad.

It seems that they could face stiff competition however, with a host of other top flight clubs also dispatching talent spotters to the south coast.

Scours from Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool are all reported to have watched Dunk in action this term.

The interest mirrors that being paid to the Albion’s latest star-in-the-making Jake Forster-Caskey, who, despite having only recently arrived on the first team picture, has already been linked with a move to the Emirates or Villa Park.

Both youngsters come from well-known Sussex football families. Forster-Caskey is the stepson of former Albion favourite Nicholas Forster, while Dunk’s dad Mark was a popular figure on the local non-league scene, not least at Horsham FC where he had stints as both player and manager.