Image for “I think Liverpool…” – Reds backed to complete signing of “quality” £70m attacker
Image for “I think Liverpool…” – Reds backed to complete signing of “quality” £70m attacker
Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh “will still want to” complete a move to Liverpool, according to an encouraging claim from expert Baboucarr Fallaboweh.
The £70m-rated Gambian was one of many rumoured wide targets for the Reds in the summer transfer window, but a move ended up not materialising and he has remained with the Seagulls.
Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz arrived at Liverpool instead, but both are arguably at their best on the left wing, as is the case with Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha, too.
It means that the Reds have a lack of naturally right-sided options, which is why they could potentially return for Minteh as they look to properly replace the legendary Mohamed Salah:
Speaking to Sport Witness, Fallaboweh discussed Minteh’s younger years as a footballer, before talking up a transfer to Liverpool in the near future:
“Everything around him was football. He loved football and people came to notice him when he played in the school football team. It was the President Cup. So that’s where he made his name for his school,” he said.
“He was noticed from that age and then he moved to play divisional football, a club called Steve Biko. And the two seasons he played for them before he moved to Denmark, he was the best in his position.”
“I think Liverpool. He will still want to go to Liverpool. Depending on [how] Liverpool will activate that desire to still have him. 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.”
Can Yankuba Minteh be Liverpool’s Mo Salah replacement?
As mentioned, Salah hasn’t yet been replaced, which feels negligent, with Liverpool’s attack feeling imbalanced, which isn’t helping Florian Wirtz’s form and the general attacking rhythm of the team.
In Minteh, the Reds would be signing a player not dissimilar to Salah in style, possessing raw pace, a good left foot and being praised by Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler earlier this year:
“He has a quality not a lot of players have, and I’m really happy for him. He was waiting for his chance, and he used it in a really positive way. We have to work with him to keep doing unpredictable things offensively but staying more reliable defensively – to keep doing the easy things right in our half. He understands now more and more what it needs to work for the team.”
Minteh is injured currently, so Liverpool aren’t able to keep monitoring his progress, but he should at least be considered a strong right-sided option in 2027.
The 22-year-old isn’t perfect, with an unpredictability to his game that can be frustrating, but he is a player with so many attributes, and he would add a huge amount of threat to the attack.