Full Breakdown
Liverpool Pursues Brighton Winger Yankuba Minteh Amid £50 Million Bid Rejection
8/21/2026, 1:10:41 AM
Core Event
Brighton have turned down Liverpool’s £50 million offer for 22-year-old Gambia international Yankuba Minteh. The winger is recovering from right-leg surgery after an injury sustained in a 3-0 friendly win over Roma earlier this month. Sources say the recovery will keep him out for two to three months, with an eight-week timeline, but he remains keen on a move if the clubs can agree on a fee.
Background & Context
Liverpool have been searching for a replacement for Mohamed Salah since his departure at the end of last season. The club has already signed Spain international Victor Muñoz and is monitoring other wide attackers such as PSG’s Ibrahim Mbaye and Bradley Barcola. At Brighton, Minteh and Japan international Kaoru Mitoma have been the primary flank threats under manager Fabian Hürzeler, while Canadian forward David Promise was added on loan as a stand-in for Danny Welbeck.
Data & Statistics
- Minteh arrived from Newcastle United for £30 million in the summer of 2024.
- He has logged 66 Premier League appearances, scoring nine goals and delivering eight assists.
- Last season he ranked fourth in the league for dribbles (142 attempts, 45.8 % success).
- In the 2025-26 campaign he recorded three goals and four assists, with a six-month goal drought between September and March.
Official Statements & Responses
Brighton’s management indicated that the £50 million bid fell below the club’s valuation and that they intend to keep Minteh, who is contracted through 2029. Liverpool’s representatives, speaking through senior club sources, emphasized a long-term perspective, acknowledging the short-term injury but asserting that Minteh fits the profile of a wide attacker needed for the squad.
Why It Matters
For Brighton, retaining Minteh preserves a key attacking outlet on the flanks, especially as Mitoma has missed periods with injury. For Liverpool, acquiring Minteh could help fill the “Salah-shaped hole” on the right wing and add a pace-driven option to complement existing players. The outcome of the negotiations will shape both clubs’ transfer strategies ahead of the upcoming season.
