Brighton reject Liverpool's £50m Yankuba Minteh bid
Brighton have rejected a £50million bid from Liverpool for winger Yankuba Minteh. The 22-year-old Gambia international is recovering from right-leg surgery and is expected to miss another eight weeks, though sources say he is keen on the move if the clubs can agree a fee.
According to The Athletic, the rejected offer is worth about $68.1m. Minteh is under contract at Brighton until 2029 after a £30m move from Newcastle in 2024. For more Premier League transfer alerts, see our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Key Takeaways
- Brighton have turned down Liverpool's £50m bid for Minteh.
- The winger had right-leg surgery after a pre-season injury versus Roma and faces about eight more weeks out.
- Sources say Minteh is open to joining Liverpool if the clubs agree a fee.
- Liverpool want more wide options after Mohamed Salah's departure and have already signed Victor Munoz.
- Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler says Albion can cope without Minteh and Kaoru Mitoma by adapting roles.
Why did Brighton reject Liverpool's Minteh bid?
Brighton view Minteh as a proven Premier League attacker rather than a disposable asset. Since arriving from Newcastle, he has nine goals and eight assists in 66 league appearances, mostly on the right and sometimes on the left when Mitoma has been unavailable.
Correspondent Andy Naylor notes Minteh would be a significant attacking loss for Brighton after Danny Welbeck's move to Chelsea. He and Mitoma have been the main flank threats under Hurzeler. Brighton also signed Zadok Johanna from AIK and brought in Promise David on loan, but Minteh already has top-flight pedigree.
How long will Minteh be sidelined?
Minteh sustained a right-leg injury in Brighton's 3-0 home friendly win over Roma earlier this month and needed surgery. The Athletic reports he is expected to be out for another eight weeks. Fantasy Football Scout earlier cited reports of a two-to-three-month absence, while Hurzeler said after a 1-0 win over Bologna that Minteh "will miss for a longer period" and called him a key player.
With Mitoma also out, Hurzeler has used Maxim De Cuyper on the left and Diego Gomez on the right. He argued Albion can still threaten wide by matching tactics to available profiles, saying one-against-one players like Minteh and Mitoma matter but "we will find solutions."
What happens next for Liverpool and Minteh?
Liverpool have tracked Minteh all summer as they rebuild after Salah left. James Pearce writes that at 22 with Premier League experience he fits the brief, having troubled Liverpool in Brighton's 2-1 Amex win in March. The Reds have also been linked with PSG's Ibrahim Mbaye and remain in pursuit of Bradley Barcola, though valuations remain apart.
It is unclear whether Liverpool will raise their £50m offer or pivot to other targets. Their interest coincides with Manchester United renewing interest in Brighton's Carlos Baleba, with United reportedly offering around £60m plus £5m in add-ons—seen as below Brighton's asking price.