**Liverpool came close to signing Brighton star Yankuba Minteh in the summer, but a deal collapsed due to an inability to agree on a transfer fee with the Seagulls.**
Minteh is targeting a return to training and full fitness in October after having surgery on a hip injury in July, but the £80m that Brighton demanded for his services far exceeded Liverpool’s valuation of the Gambian.
They ultimately signed Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola without making any further attacking signings, keeping Cody Gakpo instead. The plan was to allow Gakpo to move to Manchester City, but they pulled the plug late in the window.
Yet, there could still be a chance for Minteh to move to Anfield in the future, with Liverpool still searching for a proper replacement for Mohamed Salah.
There has been some talk of interest in Michael Olise, but until more credible journalists report the same, it’s not worth getting invested in what is still a fantasy.
Minteh, according to Gambian football expert Baboucarr Fallaboweh, via [Sport Witness](https://sportwitness.co.uk/exclusive-player-still-keen-on-joining-liverpool-reds-aware-of-asking-price/), will still have ambitions of joining Liverpool after a deal failed to materialise in the summer.
_“I think Liverpool. He will still want to go to Liverpool. Depending on \[how\] Liverpool will activate that desire to still have him,”_ Fallaboweh said.
_“Because right now, his situation has not been helped because he is injured. If not, then you could have more justification for him to showcase his performance why Liverpool were after him._
_“But at the overall situation, even if he moves, I don’t think he will move outside the Premier League. Manchester United can come banging on their doors._
_“It’s a big win for him to be associated with Liverpool. So, it gives other big European clubs around the world to take a closer look at him now that they know Brighton’s actual price. So, it will be easier for them to explore it.”_
Liverpool were correct not to pay the £80m that Brighton demanded for Minteh. The 22-year-old is an exciting player, but has yet to demonstrate an ability to deliver high attacking numbers. His best season for the Seagulls saw him net six Premier League goals.