Liverpool have been informed that Brighton & Hove Albion will not budge below £70 million for winger Yankuba Minteh, after the Seagulls turned down two separate bids from the Merseyside club.
According to reports, Liverpool's opening offer of £50 million and a subsequent improved bid of £60 million were both rejected by Brighton, who remain committed to their valuation of the 22-year-old Gambia international. It is understood the south coast club could still see a third, higher offer arrive before next Tuesday's transfer deadline, though their stance on price has not softened.
Brighton's resolve is reportedly influenced by the £70 million fee agreed for Carlos Baleba's move to Manchester United, which the club view as a benchmark for their prized assets. Minteh has emerged as one of the Premier League's most sought-after wide players, and manager Fabian Hurzeler's side appear determined not to let him go cheaply.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot is understood to be keen on bringing Minteh to Anfield to add genuine width and attacking depth. Currently, Cody Gakpo operates from the left flank while young talent Rio Ngumoha has featured on the right, with Florian Wirtz primarily deployed as a No. 10 rather than out wide. Signing Minteh would give Slot's side an alternative option to stretch defenses.
Liverpool have also explored a move for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola this summer, but the two clubs remain significantly apart in their valuations, with PSG said to be seeking a fee in the region of £145 million for the France international.
The pursuit of reinforcements comes on the back of a dramatic result for Liverpool at St James' Park, where Dominic Szoboszlai's stoppage-time penalty rescued a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Minteh's potential departure would represent another significant sale for Brighton, who have already been busy in the transfer market themselves. The club have brought in defensive reinforcements in Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo, alongside winger Victor Munoz, as they look to reshape their squad ahead of the new campaign. Notably, Minteh missed Brighton's emphatic 4-0 victory over Aston Villa through injury.
Despite the incomings, Brighton head coach Andoni Iraola has stressed that his squad remains short in certain areas and that he is prepared to be patient as the transfer window edge closer to its close. "Some deals you have to wait until the end," Iraola told Sky Sports. "But the end is the important picture, the one we will have on September 1, because it is true that we are still quite thin."
The Spanish coach, who previously managed Bournemouth, also expressed his frustration with the uncertainty that comes with the transfer window remaining open once the season has already begun. "As a manager, this is an easy one for me. I wanted the players for the first day, July 13, everyone here, all the positions doubled, top-level players," Iraola said earlier in the week. "But you understand how the competition works, that [the] market is open and you start the competition. We have to adapt as coaches to this situation. I hate these two weeks or these 10 days that we have because there is a lot of uncertainty – but not in Liverpool, everywhere because once the market is open. But we have to adapt."
With the deadline fast approaching, both clubs face crucial decisions over how the Minteh saga will unfold, as Liverpool weigh up whether to meet Brighton's asking price or turn their attention elsewhere.
Based on reporting from The Independent.