Liverpool 'expected' to make move for Premier League sensation instead of Yan Diomande | OneFootball

If you asked any Liverpool fan about one player they'll definitely sign this summer, they'd more than likely say Yan Diomande.

Ever since Mohamed Salah announced that he was exiting, the Ivorian has been on top of the Reds' shortlist.

The attacker has had a fairly impressive season with RB Leipzig despite it only being his first campaign in a top five European league.

He's been used on the left and the right with his performances among the best in the league.

But, since Leipzig know how good he could become and how good he already is, they're demanding a rather extortionate fee for his services.

This is one of the main reasons behind Liverpool potentially changing their transfer plans and why a Premier League sensation could now be their main target.

Yankuba Minteh is Liverpool's next main target after Yan Diomande

Yankuba Minteh is another player who has long been linked with a Liverpool switch.

Even before the Gambian joined Brighton from Newcastle back in 2024, he was on the Reds' shortlist as a potential option for them to explore.

Granted, this was probably due to the time he spent with Arne Slot at Feyenoord but, it's clear that the Reds saw he had a bit of something about him otherwise he wouldn't have been named as one of their targets.

And, even though their initial interest was reported almost two years ago, they've not taken their eyes off him as the Anfield outfit now see him as the next best option after Diomande.

That is, if the latest report from Caught Offside is to be believed.

"If Liverpool decide Leipzig’s price is too high, Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh is expected to become one of the first names they move for," they wrote.

"A budget of around £40m has been allocated for the 21-year-old.

"Minteh would be a very Iraola-style signing. He is quick, direct and aggressive without the ball, which makes him well suited to a high-energy pressing system.

"He may not have Diomande’s superstar valuation, but he could offer better value and still has plenty of room to develop."

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Yankuba Minteh would be an exceptional signing for Andoni Iraola and Liverpool

Much like Caught Offside shared, Minteh feels like a very Iraola-esque signing.

The attacker already has a decent chunk of Premier League experience but, since he's only 21 years old, there are still a few areas of his game which are a tad raw.

However, the fact that he can play on both wings and has contributed to 47 goals throughout his career so far prove how good he actually is.

His favoured side is obviously on the right but, it's nice to know that he can be moved around if another injury crisis impacts Anfield.

Indeed , the fact that he only scored three Premier League goals this term is a tad worrying but, with higher quality players around him, he's likely to perform much better at Anfield than at the AmEx.

And, the fact that he'd cost an awful lot less than Diomande despite having Premier League experience is a massive bonus, especially when Liverpool will need all of their new signings to hit the ground running as soon as possible.