There is still a slim chance that Liverpool will sign Yankuba Minteh before tonight’s 11 pm deadline, despite Cody Gakpo’s move to Manchester City being called off.
The 2026 summer transfer window has been a disappointment, with a number of key signings not made. The lack of a new right winger to replace Mohamed Salah is chief among them, as is the lack of a new midfielder and right back.
However, Liverpool could still sign Minteh from Brighton in the closing howers of the window.
According to a report made on X by journalist Foday Manneh, Liverpool and Brighton made some positive progress in talks late last night.
Manneh reports: “Yankuba Minteh to Liverpool FC is not off until the last hour as anything could happen. The player’s camp held talks with LFC last night pushing for a deal which ended with some positives.
“LFC has not contacted the player since this morning, but they also have not closed their pursuit yet. They may go fast to complete a deadline-day deal with Andoni Iraola still demanding Minteh’s profile.
“The player’s agent is indeed in England which can make everything easier should an agreement be reached. However, nothing is new yet. Long hours ahead.”
?? Yankuba Minteh to Liverpool FC is not off until the last hour as anything could happen. The player’s camp held talks with #LFC last night pushing for a deal which ended with some positives. #LFC has not contacted the player since this morning, but they also have not closed… pic.twitter.com/oeidlYo7EG
— Foday Manneh (@foday_manneh_) September 1, 2026
Minteh remains sidelined after surgery on a hip injury he sustained in pre-season with Brighton, so even if Liverpool sign him tonight, he will not be available until late October.
That said, Iraola’s squad still lacks a player with his profile. Liverpool are also very short on left-footed players, leaving the squad imbalanced and quite predictable in their approach play.
It doesn’t seem likely that Liverpool will sign Minteh – or anyone else – tonight and if they do, it will once again beg the question: where is the urgency?
The Reds have dilly-dallied all summer, and only have four new signing to show for it – one of them being a loan deal for Ronald Araujo and another being a £60m agreement for Jeremy Jacquet that was negotiated in January.
All in all, Liverpool have only added Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola this summer, with nearly two months between the two deals being completed.