Liverpool have seen a £50 million bid for Brighton and Hove Albion winger Yankuba Minteh turned down, as the Merseyside club continue their search for attacking reinforcements before the transfer deadline on September 1.
According to reports, the offer was submitted several days ago as Liverpool look to bolster their options out wide following the departure of Mohamed Salah, who left on a free transfer at the end of his contract. With the new Premier League season already underway, manager Andoni Iraola is keen to add depth to a forward line that currently features Cody Gakpo, Victor Munoz and Rio Ngumoha as the club's senior wide options.
Minteh, a 22-year-old Gambia international, has impressed since joining Brighton from Newcastle United for £30 million in 2024. He has scored ten goals and provided nine assists in 73 appearances for the Seagulls, predominantly operating on the right flank under Fabian Hurzeler. However, Brighton, who have already lost Danny Welbeck to Chelsea this summer and have Kaoru Mitoma sidelined through injury, are reluctant to sanction another departure from their attacking ranks.
Complicating matters further, Minteh is currently recovering from a leg injury sustained during a pre-season friendly against Roma earlier this month and could be out for as long as eight weeks. Despite the setback, he is said to be open to a move to Anfield should a deal be reached. It remains unclear whether Liverpool will return with an improved offer to try to convince Brighton to sell.
The pursuit of Minteh comes as Liverpool's primary target, Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola, continues to prove difficult to prise away from the French champions. PSG are believed to be holding out for a fee in the region of £145 million, while Liverpool are reportedly only willing to go as high as around £100 million for the France international, who is understood to be keen on the move himself. Liverpool have also held discussions over another PSG forward, 18-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye, though those talks have not yet progressed into a formal bid.
Liverpool's business in the transfer market has been relatively muted this summer. Their only new arrivals so far are Victor Munoz, signed from Osasuna for £34.5 million, and defender Ronald Araujo, along with Jeremy Jacquet, whose £60 million move from Rennes was agreed back in January. Meanwhile, the club have reportedly agreed a £30 million deal with Inter Milan for midfielder Curtis Jones, with the Italian side making a breakthrough in their long-standing interest by offering €30 million plus €5 million in add-ons. Jones has since been given permission to undergo a medical in Italy.
Iraola's side opened their Premier League campaign against Newcastle United, a club that itself endured a turbulent summer, losing key figures such as Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon. With the transfer window entering its final stretch, all eyes remain on whether Liverpool can secure the attacking reinforcements they crave before the deadline passes.
Based on reporting from Standard Football, The Guardian, and BBC Sport.