Liverpool midfielder Joao Carlos Teixeira open to permanent move to Brighton

Joao Carlos Teixeira admits he may be forced to give up his "dream" of playing Premier League football for Liverpool and join Brighton and Hove Albion on a permanent deal.

The Portuguese midfielder has made 27 appearances in all competitions during his season-long loan spell at the south coast club, who are just six points above the Championship relegation zone with 12 games of the campaign remaining.

Teixeira has made just one appearance for Liverpool since joining the club from Sporting Lisbon in 2012 after impressing in the NextGen Series, and with uncertainty growing over his future prospects the 22-year-old is now open to a long-term stay at the Amex Stadium.

"It's really difficult because Liverpool are a big club with great players, but you dream of playing Premier League football with Liverpool," he told the Seagulls' official website.

"I really want that and I'm going to work for it but you never know what's going to happen in the future. Of course I would see Brighton as an option, I like everything here.

"I like the city and it's really nice living here. The facilities are great, the training ground is new, the stadium is brilliant and the fans always fill the stadium so it's great.

"I'm only thinking about right now and I want to play and help the team to make sure we are away from the relegation zone."

Though captain Steven Gerrard will leave Liverpool in the summer, manager Brendan Rodgers has a flood of midfielders to choose from including Joe Allen, Lucas Leiva, Jordan Henderson and Emre Can – who has been adopting a defensive role during the season half of the term.

Despite his potential Teixeira will therefore find it difficult to break into a Reds team where competition for places is among the toughest in the division.