Liverpool had a £50m bid for Yankuba Minteh rejected by Brighton and Hove Albion, but are expected to return with an improved offer amid claims he will eventually join the Reds this summer.
The 2026 summer transfer window has seen Liverpool go from trying to sign Yan Diomande to Bradley Barcola, and now they seem to be pivoting from Ibrahim Mbaye to Minteh.
PSG are reportedly demanding too much for Mbaye, which is why Liverpool have now moved on to Minteh, although the jury is out on whether or not the Minteh bid is a plot to pressurise PSG into accepting a lower fee for Mbaye.
Liverpool offered Brighton £50m for Minteh despite being sidelined after surgery on a leg injury that will take at least another 8 weeks to heal, yet the Seagulls rejected the bid.
The 22-year-old was only able to manage three goals and four assists across 34 Premier League games, totalling 2,400 minutes of football. It’s safe to say he’s a talented player but improvements will need to be made to meet the standards expected on the right wing at Anfield.
Liverpool expected to present new offer to Brighton for deal that “will probably end up happening”
Although Brighton rejected Liverpool’s opening offer, The Daily Mail’s Lewis Steele reports that they will return with a new bid in the next few days.
He writes: “Liverpool are expected to make an improved offer for Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh after having a £50m bid rejected. “The Gambian is out until October after undergoing surgery on his right leg.
“Liverpool reverted to the 22-year-old after considering Ibrahim Mbaye of Paris St Germain too expensive. They are continuing discussions for Bradley Barcola.”
[?] NEW: Liverpool are EXPECTED to return with an improved offer for Brighton winger Yankubah Minteh. ??????
[@SimonJones_DM] #Transfers pic.twitter.com/LRXEWXX1v3
— Anfield Sector (@AnfieldSector) August 21, 2026
According to The Athletic’s Andy Naylor, Liverpool signing Minteh is something that will “probably end up happening.”
He shaed on X: “On transfers, Minteh (to Liverpool) and Baleba (to Man Utd) will probably both end up happening, as the offers (50m and around 60m) are not that far away from making sense. Big profits again and moves to big clubs for players given game time + developed. That’s the model.”
Minteh is a very talented player even if his goal contributions aren’t at the level required yet
After an era which saw Mohamed Salah on the right wing and the likes of Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz on the left, Liverpool are now moving back to a No.9-oriented system. This is obviously due to the incredible talent of Alexander Isak.
Now that Liverpool have a world class traditional No.9, they don’t need their wingers to be so heavily contributing to the goalscoring. Of course, they still need everyone to chip in with as many goals as possible, but most of that responsibility will fall to Isak and Hugo Ekitike when he returns from injury.
So, a player like Minteh, who is a chance creation monster, is going to be way more useful than if Liverpool had a false nine like Roberto Firmino.
Scout and analyst on X, Counter Pressers, has called Minteh a “freak of nature”, given his explosive acceleration and ability to manipulate when he’s at top speed.
I would prefer Liverpool to sign Yankuba Minteh over Ibrahim Mbaye.
How is any Premier League defender supposed to stop this freak of nature? Look at how he accelerates from a standing start, got the ability to combine in the half-spaces and such a goal threat.…
— CounterPressers (@CounterPressers) August 20, 2026
When you consider the type of football that Andoni Iraola likes to play, Minteh’s skills suddenly become a lot more valuable.
