Liverpool have stepped up their search for attacking reinforcements with a £50 million bid for Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh, but their opening offer has been rejected.
The 22-year-old Gambia international has emerged as one of Liverpool’s options for the right side of their attack as the club continues reshaping its forward line following Mohamed Salah’s departure.
Brighton, however, are in no rush to sell.
The Seagulls have already turned down Liverpool’s £50m proposal, while Minteh is understood to be open to the possibility of moving to Anfield if the two clubs can eventually agree a fee.
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The bigger question now is whether Liverpool return with an improved offer — and why Brighton believe one of their most dangerous wide players is worth considerably more than £50m.
Why Do Liverpool Want Yankuba Minteh?
Liverpool’s interest makes sense when Minteh’s playing profile is considered.
He is predominantly a right-sided winger, the area where Liverpool have an obvious need following Salah’s departure. The club have already added Victor Muñoz to their attacking options, but reports indicate they still want further reinforcement in wide areas before the transfer window closes.
Minteh offers several qualities that fit that requirement.
He is quick, direct and comfortable attacking defenders one-on-one. Rather than constantly moving inside to operate as an additional midfielder, he can hold width, receive the ball against a full-back and attempt to advance the attack himself.
That ability was evident throughout Brighton’s 2025/26 campaign.
Brighton’s own statistical review named Minteh their best creator for the season. He recorded four league assists, attempted 142 dribbles and completed 45.8% of them, while his crossing also became an important part of Brighton’s attacking game.
For Liverpool, that profile could provide something different on the right.
Minteh Is More Than Just a Fast Winger
Pace is an obvious part of Minteh’s game, but reducing him to a fast wide player would overlook the progress he has already made.
During the early stages of the 2025/26 Premier League season, he established himself as one of the competition’s most active dribblers.
Premier League data showed Minteh leading the division for completed dribbles after the opening weeks of that campaign, while he was also recording a high number of touches inside the opposition penalty area.
Those numbers illustrate why clubs at Liverpool’s level are interested.
Minteh does not simply receive the ball and recycle possession. He tries to disrupt defensive structures.
He can carry the ball forward, isolate defenders, reach dangerous areas and create opportunities from the right flank.
That type of threat can be particularly valuable against opponents who defend deep, where Liverpool may need individual attackers capable of creating an advantage without relying entirely on structured passing combinations.
Why Have Brighton Rejected £50m?
Brighton’s decision is understandable.
Minteh is only 22 and remains under a long-term contract after joining from Newcastle United in July 2024. Brighton paid around £30m for him and signed him to a five-year deal.
Selling for £50m would generate a profit, but Brighton’s transfer model means profit alone does not automatically make an offer attractive.
They have repeatedly demonstrated that they are prepared to hold firm when they believe a player’s market value can rise further.
Minteh has already completed two Premier League seasons, has international experience with Gambia and still has significant development potential.
There is also an immediate sporting issue.
Brighton have already lost Danny Welbeck to Chelsea, while Kaoru Mitoma is unavailable through injury. Removing another important wide attacker shortly before the transfer deadline could leave their attacking options significantly weakened.
Supporters can follow the club’s changing squad and match context through the Brighton team.
Minteh’s Injury Makes Liverpool’s Bid More Interesting
One unusual aspect of the proposed transfer is that Minteh is currently injured.
He suffered a right-leg problem during Brighton’s 3-0 pre-season victory over Roma on 8 August and subsequently underwent surgery. Brighton initially confirmed the injury after the match, while subsequent reporting suggested he could remain unavailable for roughly another eight weeks.
That means Liverpool are pursuing a player who would not necessarily provide an immediate solution.
But it also tells us something about how they view Minteh.
If Liverpool are willing to bid £50m despite his current absence, the interest is clearly about more than filling a position for the opening weeks of the season.
They appear to view him as a longer-term piece of the attack.
The medical situation would still be important in any eventual transfer, but the injury itself has not prevented Liverpool from making a substantial offer.
Could Minteh Replace Mohamed Salah?
That comparison needs to be handled carefully.
Salah left Liverpool having established extraordinary standards of goals, assists and consistency. Expecting a 22-year-old winger to reproduce that output immediately would be unrealistic.
Minteh’s current role is also different.
He is more of a developing ball carrier and chance creator than a finished elite goalscorer.
Across his first two Premier League seasons with Brighton, Minteh scored nine goals in 66 league appearances.
Those numbers are respectable for a young winger but nowhere near Salah’s peak production.
Liverpool therefore would not be buying the finished version of the player.
They would be buying his pace, Premier League experience, one-on-one ability and potential for significant improvement.
The challenge would then be developing his end product.
Why Premier League Experience Matters
There is another reason Minteh is attractive compared with some of Liverpool’s other options.
He already understands the Premier League.
There is no uncertainty about whether he can physically cope with English football or whether his speed translates against Premier League defenders.
He has already performed against some of the competition’s strongest teams.
In February 2025, Minteh scored twice as Brighton defeated Chelsea 3-0. He has also produced important attacking contributions against clubs including Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham during his Brighton career.
For a Liverpool side that may want an attacker capable of contributing relatively quickly, that familiarity carries value.
Where Would Minteh Fit at Liverpool?
His most obvious position would be on the right wing.
Minteh is naturally comfortable receiving the ball wide before attacking his defender. His acceleration gives him the ability to move outside a full-back, while his crossing allows him to create once he reaches advanced areas.
But he would not necessarily have to remain permanently attached to the touchline.
With the right coaching, Liverpool could use his movement more aggressively inside the penalty area, particularly when attacks develop from the opposite flank.
That could become one of the most important parts of his development.
The difference between a dangerous Premier League winger and an elite one often comes down to what happens after the defender has been beaten.
Can the player consistently choose the right final pass?
Can he turn good positions into goals?
Can he attack the far post when the ball comes from the opposite side?
Minteh still has room to improve in those areas.
What Would Liverpool Be Buying for More Than £50m?
If Brighton demand a significantly higher fee, Liverpool must decide how much of Minteh’s future potential they are willing to pay for now.
At 22, he has time on his side.
He already has Premier League experience, elite-level pace and evidence of genuine creativity, but there are still parts of his game that need refinement.
This is therefore not the same type of transfer as signing an established winger approaching his peak.
Liverpool would effectively be paying for two things:
what Minteh already offers and what they believe he can become.
That distinction will determine whether an improved bid makes sense.
Brighton Have Strong Reasons to Keep Him
From Brighton’s perspective, this is not simply about pushing Liverpool towards a bigger number.
Minteh has become increasingly important to their attacking structure.
Brighton’s own analysis of the 2025/26 season highlighted both his creativity and his ability to generate width from the right. His 159 attempted crosses ranked ninth among Premier League players, while his four assists led Brighton’s squad.
Losing that profile would require replacement.
And with the transfer deadline approaching, finding another winger of comparable quality could become expensive.
That gives Brighton considerable negotiating leverage.
They do not have to accept a fee simply because it represents a profit on their original investment.
Liverpool Still Have Other Wide Targets
Minteh is not Liverpool’s only option.
The club’s interest in Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola remains, although PSG’s reported valuation of around £145m makes that deal considerably more difficult.
PSG youngster Ibrahim Mbaye has also been considered, while Liverpool have already spent £34.5m on Victor Muñoz this summer.
This suggests Liverpool’s recruitment team are exploring different types of deals rather than working from a single target.
Minteh sits somewhere between the alternatives.
He would be less expensive than a player valued at well above £100m, already knows the Premier League and still has enough development runway to become substantially better.
That combination is likely why Liverpool were prepared to test Brighton with £50m.
Will Liverpool Make Another Bid for Minteh?
That is now the key question.
The first offer has been rejected, but that does not necessarily mean negotiations are finished.
Minteh is reportedly interested in the move if the clubs reach an agreement, and Liverpool’s need for another right-sided attacker has not disappeared.
Brighton’s position means the next move belongs to Liverpool.
They must decide whether Minteh is valuable enough to justify increasing the offer or whether the club would be better served moving towards another target.
With the transfer deadline approaching, that decision may need to come quickly.
The Premier League fixture schedule will soon move the focus from recruitment to results, and Liverpool will want their attacking options settled as early as possible.
A Transfer That Makes Sense — but Not at Any Price
Liverpool’s interest in Yankuba Minteh is easy to understand.
He is young, already proven at Premier League level, naturally suited to the right wing and capable of causing problems through pace and direct running.
He also has enough room for development that Liverpool could reasonably believe his best football is still ahead of him.
Brighton’s refusal is equally understandable.
They have little incentive to sell an important 22-year-old attacker cheaply, particularly after other changes to their forward line.
The rejected £50m offer therefore feels less like the end of the transfer story and more like the point at which the real negotiation could begin.
Whether Liverpool return will reveal how strongly they believe Minteh can become part of their post-Salah attack.
For now, Brighton’s message is clear:
£50 million is not enough.
