FC Zurich President Ancillo Canepa has revealed why he rejected a mouth-watering € 10 million offer from Brighton for striker Raphael Dwamena.

The Swiss club turned down the offer from the English club due to the side's audacious ambition of becoming a powerful force this season.

The club say they are in a sound financial position not to hurriedly sell their highly-rated Ghanaian attacker.

And FC Zurich President Ancillo Canepa has revealed the ambition of the team this season made it practically impossible to sell their prize asset.

"No. We have already agreed before our holidays . But we still had to wait until he got the official release," he said

"I do not comment on numbers. But we canceled the deal from England.

"I am concerned about the sporting aspect, we want to play the season with a powerful and ambitious troupe and we see Raphael as a key part of that agenda."

The newly-promoted English Premier League side tabled the offer last week as exclusively revealed by GHANAsoccernet.com but was knocked back by the Swiss side.

However, the Seagulls remain interested in the Ghana international, who has seen a remarkable career rise in just six months.

Manager Chris Hughton is a key admirer of the Ghanaian, who joined FC Zurich from Red Bull Salzburg in January and scored an impressive 12 goals in 18 games.

The Swiss side bought the striker for about £250,000 just six months ago from Austria Lustenau and would have made a decent profit of £7, 750,000 if they allowed him to move.