Liverpool had two bids rejected for Yankuba Minteh during the summer transfer window, but the Reds have been given some unexpected encouragement over a potential January move
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Yankuba Minteh of Brighton and Hove Albion celebrates at the end of the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool at Amex Stadium on March 21, 2026 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Liverpool had two bids rejected for Yankuba Minteh in the summer(Image: Getty Images)
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has given Liverpool some unexpected encouragement that Yankuba Minteh could still head to Anfield in January.
The winger was one of the players looked at by the Reds as they tried to bolster their attacking options, with Minteh having been eyed up as a potential heir to Mohamed Salah on the right wing.
Liverpool had two bids of around $68 million (£50M) and $82 million (£60M) rejected for the 22-year-old, with Brighton said to have been wanting around $95 million (£70M) instead. Although the Reds would eventually get their main target in Bradley Barcola, they wouldn’t make a return for Minteh before the transfer window closed on Tuesday.
Hurzeler though has hinted that his forward could yet be on the move in a few months’ time.
"If the whole team is successful and the individual shines then Yankuba will get a lot of attention again and he can then maybe fulfil his dream in the next transfer window,” Hurzeler said ahead of his side’s game against Leeds this weekend.
Minteh is currently injured, having required surgery after being forced off during Brighton’s pre-season game against Roma last month, and is not expected to be back in action until around November.
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler has hinted Yankuba Minteh could be on the move in January(Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Hurzeler, though, is still hopeful that Minteh can play an important role for his current club this season — even if it is just for a short period.
"He wears the Brighton colours, he wears the Brighton badge,” Hurzeler added. “He has been with us for two years now as part of the squad. He has achieved great things together with the boys.
"It's also about him now to commit. In the end, we always say we want to be successful as a club and then you can shine as individuals.
Content Image
Content Image
"That is what we have proved in the past. If we achieve things together, the attention will come to the individual players and that will be the case also this season."
Liverpool.com says: Liverpool might want to see how Minteh performs when he returns from injury before making a decision on a potential January transfer.
Not only that, but Andoni Iraola will want to see how his current crop of players fare, with the likes of Cody Gakpo, Victor Munoz and Rio Ngumoha likely to get the chance to stake a claim on the right.
If Gakpo continues to perform well on that side, then there might not be any rush to get another option in. That’s still a long way away though, with plenty of games to be played before then.