Report: Premier League forward still wants to join Liverpool | OneFootball

Liverpool Transfer Latest: Yankuba Minteh Interest Makes Sense as Injury Concerns Grow

Liverpool’s start under Andoni Iraola has brought encouragement, even if a few draws have slightly checked the early momentum. Remaining unbeaten heading into October gives the new head coach a stable platform, but it does not hide the fact that there are still clear areas of the squad needing attention. According to Give Me Sport, one of those could yet lead the club back towards Brighton forward Yankuba Minteh.

The broad picture is easy to understand. Liverpool invested heavily in the summer, with Bradley Barcola arriving from Paris Saint-Germain and Jeremy Jacquet already looking like a smart addition in defence. Yet depth remains a live issue. Full-back is one concern, while the forward line, despite the arrivals of Barcola and Victor Munoz, suddenly looks thinner than it did a few weeks ago.

Cody Gakpo is out for “several weeks” after suffering an injury on international duty with the Netherlands. Alexander Isak has also returned with an issue after Sweden duty. Add in the longer-term blow that Hugo Ekitike is not expected back until 2027 after rupturing his Achilles last season against PSG, and Iraola may need to lean on younger options such as Rio Ngumoha and Lewis Koumas in the weeks ahead.

Yankuba Minteh emerges again in Liverpool transfer thinking

This is where the Minteh story becomes relevant once more. Liverpool’s need for a natural right-sided attacker has been clear for some time. The squad carries several players more comfortable operating from the left, and replacing the right-sided output lost after Mohamed Salah’s summer move to Trabzonspor remains a major strategic objective.

The report states that sporting director Julian Ward’s transfer priorities for 2027 include right-back, central midfield and right-winger. In that context, Minteh fits the profile neatly. He is direct, quick, comfortable attacking space and still has room to develop.

There is also a suggestion that the player’s interest in Anfield has not gone away. Gambian journalist Baboucarr Fallaboweh said, “I think Liverpool. He will still want to go to Liverpool. Depending on [how] Liverpool will activate that desire to still have him.” He added, “Because right now, his situation has not been helped because he is injured. If not, then you could have more justification for him to showcase his performance and why Liverpool were after him.”

Those comments matter because they point to a player open to the move, even after a transfer failed to materialise in the previous window. In deals of this nature, willingness from the player side can be a significant factor if the clubs revisit negotiations.

Brighton valuation remains major obstacle

Liverpool’s interest appears genuine, but so too is the difficulty of doing business with Brighton. The south coast club have a long-established reputation for standing firm on valuation, and that was evident again here. The report says Brighton wanted £80m for Minteh, a figure that ultimately prevented the move from being completed.

That price point is substantial for a player still developing, even if his ceiling is obvious. Liverpool were also linked with Ismaila Sarr late in the window, which suggested they were actively surveying the market for that right-sided profile when other routes became complicated.

What may keep the Minteh conversation alive is the internal belief that he could have a transformative impact. The comparison raised is Alexis Mac Allister, whose £35m arrival from Brighton in 2023 proved outstanding value. Liverpool will know there is no guarantee of repeating that kind of success, but they have already seen first-hand how a well-judged Brighton deal can elevate the squad.

Minteh offers speed, unpredictability and a willingness to run beyond defenders. If Liverpool are searching for a dynamic right winger who can stretch the game and grow into a bigger role, he is an understandable target.

Fabian Hurzeler’s comments underline the potential

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler has spoken positively about the attacker and, significantly, also highlighted the work still to be done. He said, “He has a quality not a lot of players have, and I’m really happy for him.” Hurzeler continued, “He was waiting for his chance, and he used it in a really positive way.”

There was also a revealing line on development, with the Brighton boss saying, “We have to work with him to keep doing unpredictable things offensively but staying more reliable defensively – to keep doing the easy things right in our half. He understands now more and more what it needs to work for the team.”

For Liverpool, those words are helpful. They reinforce the excitement around the player while also illustrating that he is not yet the finished article. Recruitment at this level is often about timing, paying elite money only when a club believes the upside justifies it. That is likely to be the debate inside Anfield if this file reopens.

Our View

From a hopeful Liverpool fan’s perspective, this report feels believable and encouraging. The squad clearly needs another natural right winger, especially with injuries already affecting the attack and with Salah gone. Minteh looks like the sort of player who could bring real energy to this side. He is quick, aggressive, brave in one-v-one situations and seems to have the mentality to handle a big move.

The £80m valuation feels very steep right now, so supporters would probably want Liverpool to stay disciplined. Even so, if the player genuinely wants Anfield and the club see him as a long-term answer, this is exactly the kind of deal worth monitoring closely. Liverpool have done well before when recruiting from Brighton, and there is every chance Minteh could follow a similar path to Mac Allister in terms of impact, even if in a very different position.

There is also a bigger point here. Iraola’s system needs pace, intensity and wide players who can break games open. Minteh appears to match that brief. Fans will understandably be excited by the idea of him lining up alongside Barcola and Isak in time. For now, patience is probably required, but this feels like a transfer story that may have plenty of life left in it.

Source: Give Me Sport