Kazim-Richards arrived from Bury last summer

The 19-year-old is out of favour at the Withdean Stadium after recently handing in a transfer request.

Ritchie told the club's website: "We have made an inquiry to Brighton. That is as far as it has got at the moment although things are still ongoing."

Brighton boss Mark McGhee earlier said they had yet to receive any firm interest in the player.

McGhee is keen to keep the player and told Brighton's website: "We have had no contact from Barnsley or any other club.

"No club has made a direct approach to either myself or the chairman. We have heard the rumours too, but there has been no bid."

Kazim-Richards joined from Bury last June but was upset at finding himself on the bench for Brighton's first game of the season.

Barnsley chairman Gordon Shepherd said: "The manager and his coaching staff rate him very highly and believe there is a chance we could get him.

"He's lightning fast and we feel he could do a job for us.

"At the moment we're not sure how much they want for him but I would think it would be in the region of �100,000-�125,000."