Eredivisie: Feyenoord v Excelsior Rotterdam - Yankuba Minteh of Feyenoord during the Eredivisie match between Feyenoord
Liverpool Transfer Latest: Bradley Barcola Price, Ibrahim Mbaye Talks and Why Yankuba Minteh Remains in the Frame
Liverpool’s search for wide attacking reinforcements appears to be developing along multiple tracks, with TeamTalk reporting movement around Bradley Barcola, Ibrahim Mbaye and Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh.
The headline name remains Barcola. Liverpool are understood to have seen an opening bid of €105m, £89.9m, plus add-ons knocked back by Paris Saint-Germain, with the French champions said to value the winger far higher, closer to £145m. That immediately frames the issue for Liverpool. There may be admiration, and there may be willingness to engage, but valuation is central to whether this becomes a realistic deal.
Alongside that, Liverpool are described as pushing on Mbaye, the Senegalese teenager who is reportedly open to a move if PSG are prepared to do business. It suggests the recruitment team are exploring both elite-ready quality and younger upside in the same market, which would be consistent with a club trying to refresh an attacking department after significant change.
Photo: IMAGO
Yankuba Minteh interest remains active
If those PSG routes prove difficult, Minteh is said to be an option Liverpool continue to monitor closely. The report describes a “concrete interest” in the Brighton winger, with that appreciation dating back to Arne Slot’s time in charge and surviving beyond his departure. With Andoni Iraola now leading Liverpool, it appears the club’s recruitment view on Minteh has outlasted a managerial change.
Brighton are expected to want around £70m for the Gambia international, a sizeable outlay for a player who has shown promise in the Premier League without yet producing top-end numbers. His return of nine goals in 66 league appearances will naturally be scrutinised, especially given the scale of the role Liverpool are trying to fill out wide.
Premier League experience adds to appeal
There is, however, a clear argument in Minteh’s favour. He already knows the division, he brings direct running, and his profile is built around explosiveness and one-versus-one threat. The original report also references strong dribbling data and diligent off-ball work, qualities that would matter in Iraola’s intense, front-foot system.
Financially, Minteh may also sit in a more practical bracket than Barcola. £70m is still a major fee, but it is materially lower than PSG’s apparent demands for the France international. That matters if Liverpool are trying to strengthen more than one area this summer.
Next steps in Liverpool winger plans
For now, this looks like a situation worth watching rather than one nearing a conclusion. Barcola is the glamorous pursuit, Mbaye is the developmental play, and Minteh appears to be the Premier League-tested alternative. Liverpool’s challenge is deciding whether to push hardest for star power, future potential, or a more attainable blend of readiness and upside.
Our View
As an Liverpool supporter, this report raises as many doubts as it does excitement. Barcola is obviously a huge talent, but once the number gets towards £145m, it starts to feel like a conversation designed to test ambition more than complete a deal. Liverpool have to be smart, not reckless, even if the need for a new winger is obvious.
Mbaye sounds interesting, but he is still a teenager. Expecting a young player from PSG to come in and help solve a major attacking transition at Anfield would be asking a lot. That sort of move makes sense as part of a wider strategy, not as a centrepiece.
Minteh is the one that splits opinion most. There is pace, directness and Premier League experience there, but £70m is serious money for a player whose output has not yet fully matched the hype. Liverpool cannot afford to spend that sort of fee on potential alone when replacing a major attacking figure.
The concern is that this could become a summer of expensive near-fits. Barcola looks difficult, Mbaye looks raw, and Minteh looks risky at the price mentioned. Supporters will want Liverpool to be decisive, but also to avoid paying premium fees for players who still have major question marks attached.
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