Manchester United forward James Wilson has been sent out on loan to Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old is highly rated at Old Trafford after coming through the club's youth ranks and scoring twice on his senior debut last year.

Despite making steady progress in the first team ever since, Wilson has been restricted to just two appearances for the Red Devils this term.

Louis van Gaal has spoken highly of the England Under-21s international in the past, but recently admitted that he did not have faith in playing the youngster for a full 90 minutes.

Wilson will now spend time away from United for the first time in his career, where he will link up with Chris Hughton's high-flying Seagulls in the second tier.

"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," Hughton told the club's official website after pushing a move through.

"James is an exciting young striker, and we hope that this move will prove to be very good for all parties involved. He is very highly thought of at Old Trafford and he has been in and around the first-team picture at Manchester United 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."

Albion also completed a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Rajiv van La Parra shortly before the 5pm deadline for emergency loan signings in the Football League.