Liverpool’s search for attacking reinforcements before the September 1 deadline continues to centre on Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh and Paris Saint Germain forward Bradley Barcola.
Andoni Iraola wants two new wide options this summer, and Minteh has been viewed as a leading candidate for the right flank.
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The 22-year-old is currently sidelined after ankle surgery, following an injury sustained in a pre-season friendly against Roma. He is not expected to be fully fit again until October at the earliest.
Liverpool have already tested Brighton’s resolve twice this summer. A £50m opening offer was turned down, and a follow-up bid worth £60m was rejected shortly after.
That £60m proposal was widely regarded as a serious and competitive offer, closing much of the gap that had separated the two clubs earlier in negotiations.
According to Ben Jacobs, Brighton have now informed Liverpool that they want £80m to sanction a deal for Minteh.
That figure represents a significant jump from the £70m valuation Brighton had previously been holding out for.
It is not a price Liverpool are currently willing to meet, Jacobs reports. The Reds are not expected to return with a third bid unless Brighton’s valuation comes down.
The increase leaves the two clubs further apart than they were after Liverpool’s second offer, despite that £60m bid having been seen as a fair reflection of Minteh’s value.
Liverpool have been pursuing multiple targets in wide areas this summer after Mohamed Salah’s departure.
Victor Munoz has already arrived from Osasuna, and Barcola remains a separate, ongoing target.
Ibrahim Mbaye, also of PSG, had been considered as an alternative to Minteh, with reports suggesting personal terms were discussed with the player before Liverpool shifted focus toward the Brighton winger.
Minteh’s recovery timeline has already complicated Liverpool’s thinking.
Signing a player for a fee close to £80m while he remains unavailable for the opening months of the season carries clear risk for a club needing immediate reinforcements.
Brighton’s stance reflects their usual approach to player sales, developing talent and demanding full value before allowing a departure.
The club signed Minteh from Newcastle for £30m in 2024 before his rise into a full Gambia international and a key figure under Fabian Hurzeler.
With the transfer window closing on September 1, Liverpool must now decide whether to wait for Brighton’s valuation to fall or turn their attention fully toward alternative targets.
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Exclusive: Brighton inform Liverpool they want £80m for Yankuba Minteh. Not a price #LFC are currently willing to meet. Liverpool not expected to return with a third bid unless the valuation drops. Previous £60m bid viewed as competitive but rejected by Brighton.
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