Liverpool fans have spotted an intriguing development amid the Reds' pursuit of Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh
righton & Hove Albion's Yankuba Minteh in action during a Premier League match
Brighton's Yankuba Minteh continues to be linked with a move to Liverpool(Image: Photo by Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Speculation over Liverpool's interest in Brighton attacker Yankuba Minteh has gone through the roof on Friday evening after a private jet was scheduled to land on Merseyside from the south coast.
The Reds' pursuit of the Gambia international is no secret, as it was widely reported this week that a bid worth in the region of £50 million ($68 million) was rejected by Brighton. On Friday afternoon, Liverpool increased its offer to £60 million ($82 million), but that too was turned down by the Seagulls.
It has since been suggested that Brighton is seeking a fee in excess of £70 million ($95 million) for the 22-year-old, but it remains to be seen whether Liverpool returns with an improved bid. The club will be conscious of the fact Minteh is currently sidelined through injury and his recovery timeline is unknown at this stage, but reports have indicated a potential October or November return.
Still, with a little over a week to go in the transfer window, supporters are clinging on to any transfer hope they can get. This came in the form of plane tracking on social media, with one fan discovering a private jet scheduled to depart Brighton Airport around 8:30 p.m. BST and due to arrive at Liverpool John Lennon Airport a little under an hour later.
If the scheduled flight is indeed anything to do with the Reds' pursuit of Minteh, it may well be club officials returning to Merseyside having seen their second bid for the player rejected earlier in the day. As things stand, there has been nothing to suggest an agreement is imminent, and it has not yet been indicated whether Liverpool will return with a third offer.
In fact, reports on Friday have suggested the offers for Minteh are part of Liverpool's wider pursuit of attacking options. Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola remains its primary target, while Minteh and PSG's Mbaye are among a handful of options the club is also considering before the transfer deadline.
Both Liverpool and Brighton are in Premier League action this weekend as the new season officially gets underway. On Sunday, Fabian Hurzeler's side will take on Aston Villa, while the Reds' meeting with Newcastle will follow later in the afternoon.
Speculation is likely heightened at present given supporters' desperation to see some movement in terms of transfers. It's fair to say it's been a rather quiet window for Liverpool to date, with the club instead opting to take a more cautious and patient approach to its business.
A deal for Victor Munoz was wrapped up at the start of the summer, but that was relatively straightforward given the player had a release clause at Osasuna. Jeremy Jacquet has also arrived from Rennes, but the deal with the French club was actually agreed all the way back in January.
To the club's credit, it has moved to bring in defensive reinforcements in recent weeks. Barcelona's Ronald Araujo has been brought in on loan, ensuring funds remain free for the club's attacking targets, but the slow pace of negotiations for the likes of Barcola, Mbaye and now Minteh remains a concern among supporters.
In other news, exits are still being sanctioned, as Curtis Jones' move to Inter Milan was formalized on Friday. The 25-year-old midfielder brought an end to his 16-year Liverpool career in search of a more prominent role elsewhere.