Liverpool's £50m Bid for Yankuba Minteh Rejected by Brighton & Hove Albion
Liverpool have had a £50m bid for Yankuba Minteh rejected by Brighton & Hove Albion, as the Seagulls are reluctant to sell the 22-year-old winger. The Reds have been scouring the market for wingers this summer and have now tabled an opening offer for the Gambia international after shortlisting him earlier this year.
Minteh is one of several wide forwards who Liverpool have been assessing in detail and after opening exploratory talks for Paris Saint-Germain's Ibrahim Mbaye and his new team-mate Magnhes Akilouche - when he was a Monaco player - the Reds' recruitment team have now turned to the Brighton winger.
It's believed the Seagulls have rebuffed Liverpool's initial approach, however, and are reluctant to sell the 22-year-old, who is currently sidelined with an injury that required surgery during the pre-season period. The injury has not dissuaded Liverpool from making an advance with less than a fortnight left of the transfer window.
Liverpool have been in talks with Paris Saint-Germain for a number of weeks over Bradley Barcola, who has privately made it clear he wants to move to the Reds this summer. However, the Champions League holders are demanding £140m for the France international, despite boosting their own forward options this window by signing Akilouche, Ferran Torres and most recently Mike Godts.
Liverpool identified Minteh as a potential option alongside Matias Fernandez-Pardo of Lille and FC Koln's Said El Mala earlier this summer as they made Yan Diomande, now of Real Madrid, the primary target when he was at RB Leipzig. The Reds added Spain international Victor Munoz to their ranks when his £34.5m release clause was triggered in June but new head coach Andoni Iraola has made little secret of his desire for more width following the departure of Mohamed Salah, who joined Turkish side Trabzsonpor as a free agent.
Cody Gakpo is also a target for Tottenham Hotspur this window and while the Reds have previously been unwilling to do business with Spurs, any deal for Minteh could pave the way for the Netherlands international to leave for North London.
Speaking about Minteh's injury, which was sustained in a friendly with Roma earlier this month, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said: "He will miss for a long period and it's definitely a problem for us because he is a key player but we will find a way to manage this. "Beside that we don't have many injury concerns, we had some unlucky injuries you can't avoid happening in a contact sport, but overall we were quite smooth for pre-season. "We seem to be in a good place but now we have to deal with this situation."
What comes next for Yankuba Minteh?
The 22-year-old winger is currently sidelined with an injury that required surgery during the pre-season period and will miss for a long period. Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has said that they will find a way to manage this situation, but it's unclear when Minteh will return to action.
What's the current situation with Liverpool's transfer window?
Liverpool have been active in the transfer window, with a number of targets identified. They have been in talks with Paris Saint-Germain for a number of weeks over Bradley Barcola, who has privately made it clear he wants to move to the Reds this summer. However, the Champions League holders are demanding £140m for the France international.
League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 6th in Premier League, 50 pts, 13W-11D-10L from 34 games, recent form WDWWW.
Goals this season: 48 scored, 39 conceded (+9 goal difference). Title race: 20 points behind leaders Arsenal. Currently sidelined: Solomon March, Igor Julio dos Santos de Paulo, Tariq Lamptey, Carlos Baleba, Jack Hinshelwood, Stefanos Tzimas.
