Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi has reaffirmed hopes of keeping veteran pair James Milner and Adam Lallana.

The pair are off contract this summer.

De Zerbi told The Argus: “I think they are important on and off the pitch to help the young players to progress.

“You need the coach, you need the staff, you need the club because the club is crucial.

“But the older players are crucial as well with their experience to help and to teach the young players to improve, to progress and to adapt.

“For example, Valentin Barco I think is playing well, is showing his qualities.

“For a player to come during the season and to adapt to another league, another country, another philosophy, another mentality is very tough.

“If he can speak with the older players like James Milner, Welbeck, Adam Lallana, I think the improvement can be faster for sure.

“Logically, they cannot play every game 90 minutes, but if you use them in the right way, Lallana for example in the second part of the season has been available more or less every game.

“Milner is different, because he has to accept he is older, but he is an important player for us. I would like them to stay next season.

"We have missed Milner a lot on the pitch. Roma away for example, we paid a big price without him."