ALBION have delivered a statement of promotion intent to the rest of the Championship by landing James Wilson on loan from Manchester United for the rest of the season.

The Seagulls beat 20 clubs from the Premier League, Championship and League One to the signature of the England under-21s striker.

Boss Chris Hughton further bolstered his attacking options in the closing stages of the loan transfer window by borrowing Dutch winger Rajiv van La Parra from Championship rivals Wolves.

Albion had an anxious wait until well past yesterday’s 5pm deadline for confirmation the paperwork had gone through for long-time target Wilson.

Top six rivals Derby and Burnley are believed to be among the raft of clubs who were interested in taking him but Wilson has opted to take the same route as Jesse Lingard.

Manchester United team-mate Lingard helped Albion into the play-offs on-loan two seasons ago and has now forced his way into the first team at Old Trafford.

Wilson, starved of Premier League opportunities so far under Louis Van Gaal, will now be hoping to follow suit, much to the delight of Chris Hughton.

Albion’s manager said: “We have been keen to add a striker and James has been our number one target for some time so we are absolutely delighted to have completed the deal.

“He is very highly thought of at Old Trafford and he has been in and around the first team picture since Ryan Giggs gave him his debut the season before last.

“There was a huge amount of competition from rival clubs to sign James on loan and it has been another great team effort to secure his signature.

“I now hope he will help us maintain our excellent start to the season and bring additional goals to the squad.”

Wilson’s young international colleagues from Albion, Solly March, Jake Forster-Caskey and Christian Walton, are also thought to have played a part in his decision after 73 minutes of playing time for the 19-year-old in United’s last 30 Premier League games.

Wilson, 20 next Tuesday, trains with his new team-mates today and goes straight into contention for Birmingham’s visit to the Amex tomorrow.

Former Manchester United defender turned TV, radio and newspaper pundit Danny Higginbotham believes Wilson, an unused sub for United against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday, will be a big hit on the South Coast.

Higginbotham tweeted last night: “Great loan signing for BHAFC in getting James Wilson. Surprised ManUtd let him go out. Will do well.”

Albion also made a late swoop for La Parra, with Sam Baldock and Kazenga LuaLua both injured.

The Dutchman has joined until January 2 but will effectively only be available until Ipswich’s visit on December 29, as Albion are at home to Wolves three days later and he will be ineligible to face his parent club.

Hughton said: “With Sam currently injured and Kazenga having missed the amount of games he has, we have been very keen to bring in offensive options. In Rajiv we have a player who was a regular player in Wolves’ promotion chase last season.

“He will give us pace and creativity in the forward areas and supplements our existing wide options. He is something different to the players we already have here and I am delighted to have him on board.”

Former Dutch under-21 international La Parra has made seven appearances for Wolves this season, the last against Middlesbrough at the end of October.

He played 41 times for them last season as they missed out on the play-offs in seventh place on goal difference.

It’s a case of third time lucky for La Parra. A 28-loan move to Bolton earlier this month was wrecked by an imminent takeover at the Macron Stadium, while a permanent switch to Leeds fell through in the summer transfer window.