Liverpool’s search for a direct successor to Mohamed Salah defined much of their summer transfer strategy.
Liverpool’s search for a direct successor to Mohamed Salah defined much of their summer transfer strategy, and for the better part of a year, one name sat quietly at the centre of those plans.
That the deal ultimately collapsed, despite months of groundwork and genuine intent from Anfield, has now been explained in detail by someone with direct insight into the situation.
Gambian journalist Foday Manneh, who has closely tracked the saga involving Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh, spoke to Sport Witness to lay out exactly why Liverpool’s pursuit fell apart in the final days of the window.
According to Manneh, Liverpool’s interest in Minteh was not a late addition to their summer plans but a long-running project.
“Liverpool’s interest goes back to October 2025,” he explained.
“Liverpool were keen and were looking at him as the potential replacement of the departing Mo Salah.”
“From that instant, Liverpool started looking for Salah’s replacement and Yankuba was one of the profiles they were looking at.”
Formal contact came several months later.
“Somewhere around February-March, they initiated their first contact with the player’s camp to officially register their interest,” Manneh said, describing a deliberate and patient approach rather than a rushed deadline day scramble.
The negotiations themselves became complicated by shifting terms.
Liverpool tabled an offer of £60 million, prompting Brighton to raise their valuation to £70 million with a deadline attached of August 25th.
Iraola’s side did not return with an improved bid before that cutoff, and Brighton subsequently pushed the price to £80 million in the final week of the window.
“Yes, Brighton were considering around £70m,” Manneh said.
“If Liverpool could have provided that at the time, they would consider selling the player.”
He added that Liverpool viewed the subsequent increase as unreasonable, informing Brighton “it’s too much and they can’t reach £80m, especially since he’s injured.”
That injury proved to be the decisive factor.
Minteh suffered a foot injury during pre-season in August, requiring surgery that ruled him out for two to three months.
According to Manneh, this, rather than the asking price, ultimately determined the outcome.
“The injury, I think even at the last hours of the transfer, was now the much concern to Liverpool, not even the asking price anymore,” he said.
“They explored again to say right now the player is injured, how soon he will return and then start counting on him.”
“That was the main challenge.”
“No longer about price, it was about the injury.”
Manneh believes the deal would have gone through without that setback.
“If it wasn’t for the injury, the Reds were willing now to raise their offer again and then go for the player, considering the fact that they couldn’t have a much better option in the market.”
“I’m sure they would have got to £72-75m for him, but the injury played a huge part.”
Liverpool’s long chase ended not with a transfer collapse over money, but over medical uncertainty at the worst possible moment.
Support DaveOCKOP and enjoy the site completely ad-free. You’ll get an uninterrupted browsing experience while helping us continue to deliver the latest Liverpool news, breaking stories and exclusives. Go ad-free today.