Arne Slot wants £70m lethal weapon forward to join Liverpool | OneFootball

It’s no secret that Liverpool are scouring the market for replacements for Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian King, 33, is under contract until 2027 but looks set to leave the club this summer. Salah is earning £400k per week and his output this term has been a long way beneath what is expected for that money.

Accordingly Richard Hughes could opt to cash in - with interest materialising in the two-time African player of the year from Saudi Arabia and MLS.

The next big question is who can come to Anfield and succeed Salah?

Arne Slot wants Yankuba Minteh

One potential solution is Yankuba Minteh - Brighton’s exciting 21-year-old right-winger.

Minteh is well acquainted with Arne Slot - having spent time under the Dutchman on loan at Feyenoord during the 2023/24 season.

Back then Minteh was a Newcastle player - joining Brighton in summer 2024 amid a Magpies’ PSR crisis.

Fichajes is now describing Minteh as the chosen one; a “lethal weapon” worth between £60m and £70m ahead of the summer transfer window.

“Yankuba Minteh 's name has emerged as the top priority to occupy the right wing of the Reds' attack,” the report reads.

“Arne Slot is intimately familiar with the African striker's abilities, having managed him with remarkable success during his previous spell in the Netherlands.

“This personal connection between the manager and the player could be the key to unlocking a financially complex deal. During his time at Feyenoord, the winger proved to be a lethal weapon under the manager who now leads the British side.

“The selling club's financial demands range between 70 and 80 million euros (£60m and £70m) to authorize the permanent transfer of the winger.”

Yankuba Minteh: Situation summary

Yankuba Minteh is now an emerging attacking option for Brighton rather than Newcastle, having joined the Seagulls in July 2024 for a fee reported in the £30–33m range as part of Newcastle’s push to meet PSR requirements.

He signed a contract to 2029 and has quickly established himself as a high-upside right‑sided forward who can also operate across the front line, offering pace, direct running and a threat attacking the back post.

Brighton staff have publicly highlighted his potential, while Minteh has already contributed goals in league and cup, including scoring at St James’ Park in the FA Cup.

Contractually, Brighton are very secure: Minteh is tied down on a five‑year deal to 2029 on relatively modest wages for a Premier League attacker of his profile, and there is no suggestion of release clauses being in play.

From a market perspective, his age, production at Feyenoord (10 Eredivisie goals in 2023‑24) and trajectory in the Premier League mean Brighton can justifiably view him as a potential “next big sale” player in the medium term if an elite club comes with a substantial offer.

© IMAGO - Yankuba Minteh Liverpool