Yankuba Minteh is wanted by Liverpool (Image: Richard Parkes)
Yankuba Minteh is wanted by Liverpool (Image: Richard Parkes)
Yanuba Minteh’s immediate future remained in doubt as the transfer deadline neared.
But it would not be a huge surprise to see him remain an Albion players into September.
The Gambia winger is wanted by Liverpool, whose head coach Andoni Iraola has made it clear he needs to strengthen out wide.
But Albion have already made two of their trademark-type sales this summer, in terms of players who they have developed in recent years and then let go for big fees.
Jan Paul van Hecke went to Spurs for £52 million early in the summer and they have now sold Carlos Baleba to Manchester United for up to £70 million.
Danny Welbeck’s move to Chelsea was a major one in terms of the squad but was not in the classic Brighton mould of big money for a young player.
Minteh has been subject of offers from Anfield but it would be unusual for Albion to make so many big sales in one window.
And it is likely he is a player who – unlike van Hecke and Baleba - they did not envisage selling this summer.
While they are known as a club who develop players and sell them on, the Seagulls are also capable of saying No when they are not ready to lose a specific talent.
That was underlined, most notably, with Baleba last summer.
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Reports from sources including Sky Sports on Wednesday suggested the trail had cooled for Liverpool.
The asking price is said to be £80 million with Liverpool having gone to £60 million.
But Albion will know the Reds appear to have more than £100 million to spend on PSG’s Bradley Barcola.
Minteh is expected to be out of action for several weeks yet due to an ankle injury suffered in the friendly versus Roma.