Brighton have rejected a £60million bid from Liverpool for winger Yankuba Minteh after the offer fell short of their valuation.
The Reds had previously seen a £50million bid for the 22-year-old turned down. Minteh is currently sidelined with an injury and is expected to remain out until October.
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Brighton are also without Kaoru Mitoma, who has been sidelined since May with a hamstring injury. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool and Minteh have reached a verbal agreement on contract terms, with the winger giving the green light to the Reds’ project.
Romano posted on X: “Liverpool and Yankuba Minteh have a broad verbal agreement on contract terms as the player said yes to #LFC project.”
Strengthening the wide-forward positions has been a priority for Liverpool throughout the window, with Victor Munoz already signed from Osasuna. Minteh is one of several options the Reds are considering.
The winger joined Brighton from Newcastle for £30million in 2024 and has scored 10 goals and provided nine assists in 73 appearances for the Seagulls.
Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola recently admitted that his squad lacks enough wingers for the start of the season but remains confident the club will find a solution before the transfer window closes.
“As a manager, this is an easy one for me. I wanted the players for the first day on 13 July – everyone here and all the positions doubled with top-level players,” said Iraola when asked about the transfer window before news of the second Minteh offer emerged.
“But you understand how the competition works, that [the] market is open and you start the competition. We have to adapt as coaches to this situation.
“I hate these two weeks or these 10 days that we have because there is a lot of uncertainty – but not in Liverpool, everywhere. But we have to adapt.”
Iraola added: “You are asking me what we need – there are certain situations that for me are clear – especially now on the wing because we don’t have enough players specific to play in those positions.
“And then in other positions, I think we have to be open-minded in the market to see situations that honestly can improve our team.
“It’s not about signing because we need a player here. No, it’s about improving the squad. And we have very good players already here, so to improve our very good players, you need like a specific level of player, yes.”