Report: Liverpool considering another bid to sign Premier League star | OneFootball

Minteh becomes major Liverpool transfer target

Liverpool are considering whether to return with an improved offer for Brighton and Hove Albion winger Yankuba Minteh after their opening £50 million bid was rejected.

According to talkSPORT, the original source of the report, Brighton immediately rebuffed Liverpool’s approach. The Premier League champions are now contemplating a second bid as they attempt to strengthen their attacking options before the September 1 transfer deadline.

Minteh has emerged as an intriguing target despite currently being sidelined by a leg injury. The 22-year-old suffered the problem during Brighton’s pre-season friendly against Roma and could remain unavailable until November.

Liverpool would therefore be investing in a player who could not immediately contribute to Andoni Iraola’s side. That complicates the proposed deal, particularly when the club require attacking reinforcements capable of making an early impact.

The Reds have signed Victor Munoz but have not yet secured a direct replacement for Mohamed Salah on the right wing. Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola has been linked with a move to Anfield, although the France international is generally more comfortable on the left.

PSG youngster Ibrahim Mbaye is another name reportedly under consideration. His opportunities in Paris could become increasingly limited following the arrivals of Maghnes Akliouche, Mika Godts and Ferran Torres.

Minteh, however, offers something different. He has already experienced the demands of Premier League football and possesses the pace, aggression and directness required to trouble established defenders.

Brighton valuation tests Liverpool ambition

Liverpool’s rejected £50 million bid illustrates how highly Brighton value Minteh. The south-coast club have built a reputation for identifying promising players, developing them and refusing to sell unless their valuation is met.

Newcastle United signed Minteh before sending him on loan to Feyenoord, where his performances in the Netherlands attracted wider attention. He never made a competitive first-team appearance for Newcastle and was sold to Brighton in the summer of 2024.

His first campaign with Brighton produced six goals and four assists. Minteh followed that return with another three goals and four assists during the subsequent season.

Those numbers are respectable rather than exceptional, particularly when placed beside the potential transfer fee. Liverpool would not be paying solely for his existing production, though. They would be investing in his age, physical qualities, Premier League experience and capacity for further improvement.

Minteh is a persistent and energetic attacker. He looks to carry the ball forward, create shooting opportunities and force defenders into hurried decisions. His willingness to run both with and without possession could make him an attractive fit for Iraola’s high-intensity approach.

Brighton also have no obvious reason to accept a discounted offer. Minteh remains under contract, is still developing and could become considerably more valuable if his end product improves. Liverpool may consequently need to raise their bid significantly or structure an agreement involving achievable performance-related additions.

Injury raises difficult Minteh question

Minteh’s injury is the most immediate concern surrounding any potential transfer. A player unavailable for up to three months cannot provide the instant reinforcement Liverpool appear to need.

Medical information would therefore be central to negotiations. Liverpool must establish whether the injury is expected to heal cleanly, whether rehabilitation is progressing as planned and whether there is any meaningful risk of recurrence.

The club could view Minteh as a long-term signing rather than a short-term solution. At 22, he has time to recover, settle at Anfield and develop into a more consistent Premier League winger.

Liverpool must nevertheless consider the consequences of committing a substantial part of their transfer budget to an injured player. If Minteh were their only major attacking addition, Iraola could enter an important period of the season without sufficient depth on the right.

That creates a delicate calculation. Waiting until Minteh is fit could allow Brighton to increase their asking price if he returns strongly. Moving now could provide Liverpool with greater negotiating leverage, but it would also involve accepting a significant degree of uncertainty.

There is a footballing question as well as a medical one. Minteh’s energy and direct running are obvious strengths, but Liverpool would need him to become more reliable in decisive moments. Improving his final pass, decision-making and finishing would be essential if he were expected to replace the attacking output previously supplied from the right flank.

Liverpool squad still requires wider investment

Minteh is only one part of a broader Liverpool recruitment challenge. Iraola has welcomed three first-team additions, but questions remain across defence, midfield and attack.

Former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson believes the club still require several reinforcements before the transfer window closes. Speaking on Footy Accumulator’s No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Thompson said:

“Defensively, we do need more. It is a particular area if Jacquet isn’t fully ready, who is going to be there? It’s a difficult one. We still need recruitment.

“I think we probably need four, maybe five players in total in different positions. Defensively, certainly, a midfield player, a wide player; you need two quality players for every position. There’s work to be done.”

Thompson’s assessment captures the challenge facing Liverpool. Adding Minteh could increase Iraola’s options and provide a natural right-sided threat, but one expensive winger would not resolve every weakness within the squad.

Liverpool must decide whether Minteh represents sufficient value at more than £50 million, especially given his injury and relatively modest statistical record. Brighton, meanwhile, can afford to remain firm unless the player expresses a desire to leave or Liverpool submit an offer that becomes impossible to ignore.

A second bid would demonstrate that Liverpool’s interest is serious. It would also place greater pressure on the club to explain how Minteh fits into both their immediate plans and their longer-term attacking rebuild.

His speed, intensity and potential make him a credible target. His price, injury and need for greater consistency make him a gamble. Liverpool’s next move will reveal how strongly they believe Minteh can develop from an exciting Brighton winger into a decisive player at Anfield.