Former Liverpool boss Arne Slot worked with Yankuba Minteh in their time together at Feyenoord, with the winger being linked with a switch to Anfield.
Feyenoord coach Arne Slot, Yankuba Minteh of Feyenoord during the UEFA Champions League group E match between Celtic FC and Feyenoord
Arne Slot was full of praise for Yankuba Minteh in their time together at Feyenoord(Image: (Photo by ANP via Getty Images))
Former Liverpool head coach Arne Slot once described Yankuba Minteh as a "good player", as the Brighton winger has been linked with a switch to Anfield.
The 22-year-old has been the subject of transfer interest from the Reds over the past year, having shown plenty of quality in the Premier League with the Seagulls.
That interest has now culminated in a formal move, as reports claim that Liverpool has made a $68 million offer for the Gambian international in the final two weeks of this summer's transfer window.
That bid has seemingly been turned down by Brighton, even though Minteh is open to joining the Reds, which has ramped up uncertainty over the star's future on the south coast.
It remains to be seen whether the Merseyside outfit could move for the winger once again, with the team clearly needing a new right-winger before the market comes to a halt.
There is a balance between immediate quality and potential for the future with a player like Minteh, who has only scored ten goals and assisted nine for Brighton in his two years with the club so far.
However, there is a belief that he can progress and do much more, which will be a factor in Liverpool's approach to him as a Mohamed Salah replacement.
That promise was seen up close by former boss Slot, who had the winger alongside him for a loan spell at Feyenoord, shortly after he made the permanent switch to Newcastle.
Former Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.
Former Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Upon landing the star back in 2023, the manager said: "Yankuba Minteh and Leo Sauer have already made an excellent impression in several matches.
"There are other lads doing well, but those two really showed it this week. These are players whose development we will be following with great interest."
"When you see what Newcastle paid for Yankuba, it is of course not very surprising that he is a good player. Those are substantial amounts; for us, it would be a record transfer!"
The youngster ended up playing 36 times for Slot that season, scoring nine goals and assisting five times, marking his arrival on the big stage.
The head coach clearly left his mark on Minteh too, however, as a report from The Athletic back in 2024 claimed that he was "uncharacteristically emotional" when saying farewell to the manager.
While the pair may end up missing each other at different ends of their prospective Liverpool careers, there is a chance for Minteh to pick up where Slot left off at Anfield, should he make the move to Merseyside.