The latest on Tariq Lamptey's hamstring injury

Brighton & Hove Albion will be without defender Tariq Lamptey for the remainder of the season after he underwent surgery to repair a hamstring problem.

Lamptey has impressed since joining the Seagulls from Chelsea for just £3m in January 2020 and had been one of Brighton's standout performers during the opening stages of the 2020/21 campaign.

However, the right back suffered a hamstring injury during Brighton's 0-0 draw with Fulham on 16 December, and has not featured for the first team since.

Manager Graham Potter confirmed on Thursday that Lamptey had suffered a 'little setback' and was being sent to see a specialist shortly after returning to full training, before the Brighton boss stated that the 20-year-old may not feature in the Premier League again this season.

"I'd be lying if there wasn't that concern [missing the rest of the season], because clearly he's had some issues and we need to make sure that he's right," Potter said (via the Athletic).

"There's not that much time left of the season, depending on the state of the injury. At the moment we're not quite sure. We need to get to the bottom of it because clearly at the moment we're not quite there with that and it's frustrating for him and it's frustrating for us."

An update from The Athletic has now confirmed that Lamptey went under the knife to correct the issue, and he will now miss Brighton's relegation run in. The Seagulls currently sit outside of the drop zone on goal difference alone, after Fulham upset Liverpool at Anfield to draw level on 26 points.

Lamptey has been the subject of recent transfer speculation, with Arsenal said to be targeting the pacy Chelsea academy graduate as a potential replacement for Hector Bellerin - a rumour which has garnered a mixed response among the Gunners faithful.

The Liverpool Echo have also cited Everton with interest in the Brighton full-back, who prior to his injury had been tipped by some as a wildcard pick for England's European Championship squad.