Brighton rejects £50 million Liverpool bid for Yankuba Minteh
Brighton & Hove Albion have turned down an initial £50 million offer from Liverpool for winger Yankuba Minteh as the Reds look to reshape their forward line.
Brighton rejects £50 million Liverpool bid for Yankuba Minteh
Brighton & Hove Albion have rebuffed a £50 million ($68.1m) opening bid from Liverpool for winger Yankuba Minteh, according to reporting from The Athletic. The 22-year-old Gambian international is a target for Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola as the club seeks to bolster its wide options.
The pursuit comes at a time when Minteh is sidelined. He is currently recovering from surgery on a right leg injury sustained during a 3-0 friendly victory over Roma earlier this month. He is expected to remain out of action for another eight weeks. Despite the injury, sources with knowledge of the matter indicate Minteh is keen on a move to Anfield if the two clubs can reach an agreement on a fee.
Minteh joined Brighton from Newcastle in the summer of 2024 for £30 million and is under contract until 2029. In 66 Premier League appearances for the Seagulls, he has recorded nine goals and eight assists. While he primarily operates on the right, he has also played on the left during the absence of Japan international Kaoru Mitoma.
The potential loss of Minteh would be a significant blow to Brighton's attacking depth. Following the move of striker Danny Welbeck to Chelsea, Minteh and the injured Mitoma have been the primary attacking weapons on the flanks under manager Fabian Hurzeler. To address the void left by Welbeck, Brighton signed Canadian international Promise David on loan from Union Saint-Gilloise with an obligation to buy. The club also added Zadok Johanna from Swedish side AIK for £21.8 million this summer.
For Liverpool, the bid for Minteh is part of a broader strategy to reshape the forward line. The Liverpool ECHO reports that the pursuit of the Gambian is not an alternative to their primary target, Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola. Liverpool would ideally like to sign both players before the window closes.
Other names have surfaced in Liverpool's search for attacking reinforcements. The club explored a move for PSG's 18-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye, though senior sources at Liverpool have since dismissed reports that personal terms were agreed. Additionally, Mundo Deportivo reports that Liverpool are contemplating a £55 million bid for Real Madrid forward Endrick, the 20-year-old Brazilian who may have fallen down the pecking order at the Bernabeu following the arrival of Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig.
The activity in the winger market coincides with a period of significant transition at Anfield. Midfielder Curtis Jones is expected to join Inter Milan for a fee around £30 million, with reports indicating his medical was booked for Friday. Meanwhile, forward Cody Gakpo has been strongly linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Liverpool's current recruitment under Iraola has been limited, with Spain international Victor Munoz remaining the only permanent signing. Defender Ronald Araujo has also joined on loan. Captain Virgil van Dijk has hinted at the need for more business to ensure the squad can compete on four fronts.
Clubs across Europe remain active as the transfer window approaches its deadline on September 1. Liverpool must now decide whether to return with an improved offer for Minteh or pivot toward other targets in the final days of the market.
