Sami Hyypia: 'Brighton & Hove Albion can reach Premier League'

Sami Hyypia has insisted that Brighton & Hove Albion are in a good position to launch a bid for promotion next season.

The former Liverpool defender arrives at the club as a replacement for Oscar Garcia, who was unable to take his side past the semi-finals of the Championship playoffs, but Hyypia believes that reaching the Premier League is a realistic target.

"The ambition of the club attracted me," the 40-year-old told reporters. "Hopefully I can take the club forward in the next three years.

"I'm always confident. Confidence is no bad thing but we need to be realistic. The club has had a few good campaigns in the last few years but my job is to make it better."

Hyypia joined Brighton following a two-year spell with Bayer Leverkusen.