With Brighton asking for £80 million from Liverpool to sign Yankuba Minteh, the Reds are moving on to alternatives to fill the right-wing spot.
As a left-footed winger with Premier League experience and excellent work rate, Minteh seemed an ideal fit for Liverpool.
However, after rejecting a £60m bid from the Reds, Brighton are asking for £80m. As a result, “Liverpool are not expected to return with a third bid unless the valuation drops,” wrote reporter Ben Jacobs.
Fabrizio Romano subsequently added that Liverpool are “exploring different options for the second winger,” but left-winger Bradley Barcola remains the “first priority.”
So, with the transfer window closing in less than a week, who are some of the right-sided attackers to which Liverpool could turn?
The wildcards
Looking to Portugal, exciting 20-year-old William Gomes could be an option.
He scored 13 goals in 46 appearances last season as Porto won the Primeira Liga. Four of those strikes came in the Europa League, including one against Nottingham Forest in the quarter-finals.
The Brazilian has a £69m release clause in his contract which runs until 2029, and Porto are said to be unwilling to deal on a lower fee.
Another winger who got his break at Porto, Francisco Conceicao, has been a name linked by the Italian press.
He currently plays for Juventus and has been considered among Europe’s most promising wingers for a couple of years now.
The left-footed 23-year-old made four appearances for Portugal at the World Cup this summer, after two years at Juventus that have seen him score 11 goals and provide 12 assists.
Juventus would require a minimum of £39m, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, who said Liverpool “see Conceicao as a similar fit” to Mo Salah.
Premier League options
Pedro Neto missed training following the death of Portugal team-mate Diogo Jota (Rafal Oleksiewicz/PA)
Pedro Neto missed training following the death of Portugal team-mate Diogo Jota (Rafal Oleksiewicz/PA)
Closer to home, Rayan has been very impressive for Bournemouth since arriving in January.
Playing for Andoni Iraola, he notched five goals and two assists for the Cherries, earning himself a call-up to Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazilian World Cup squad.
Journalist Alex Crook reported that Rayan is the “dream target” for Liverpool, but a transfer is considered unlikely this summer and he has a £130m release clause that kicks in come January.
Pedro Neto signed for Chelsea two years ago from Wolves, scoring 19 goals and providing 19 assists in his 104 appearances since.
The 26-year-old is exceptional on his day, but injury problems have blighted his career, meaning Chelsea‘s £100m valuation could be too much for Liverpool’s liking.
Two players Liverpool could revisit
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, April 13, 2026: Paris Saint-Germain's Ibrahim Mbaye (R) during a training session at Anfield ahead of the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 2nd Leg game between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, April 13, 2026: Paris Saint-Germain's Ibrahim Mbaye (R) during a training session at Anfield ahead of the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 2nd Leg game between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool reportedly secured personal terms with Ibrahim Mbaye earlier in the window.
However, a mutually agreed price with Paris Saint-Germain didn’t follow and Liverpool’s move for Minteh felt like a response to failed talks for Mbaye.
French sources say the move broke down as Liverpool wanted to negotiate a combined deal for Barcola and Mbaye.
If Liverpool were to return and stump up the money for the pair, the situation could change.
Earlier this summer, it was briefed that Lille’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo was on the Reds’ shortlist.
He is less of a winger and more of a striker, but he can play on both sides as a right-footer. The Belgian would come cheaper than the alternatives, but Newcastle are also interested and could drive the price up slightly.
Football – FA Premier League – Bournemouth AFC v Liverpool FC
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 24, 2026: Bournemouth's Ryan Christie (L) and Alex Scott celebrate after the FA Premier League match between Bournemouth AFC and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. Bournemouth won 3-2.(Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Hughes, Minteh collage
Hughes, Minteh collage
Barcola Minteh Mbaye
Barcola Minteh Mbaye