Brighton & Hove Albion have rejected a £50million bid from Liverpool for Yankuba Minteh, turning away an offer for a 22-year-old winger who is still recovering from surgery on a right leg injury. Minteh is expected to miss another eight weeks, but the bid has already put his future back in focus.
The interest is easy to explain. Liverpool have been searching for a right winger since Mohamed Salah left at the end of last season, and Minteh has been on their list of targets. He is under contract until 2029, which gives Brighton the leverage to refuse a first offer and wait for more if Liverpool decide to return.
Minteh has done enough in England to make the price make sense on paper. Brighton signed him from Newcastle United for £30million in the summer of 2024, and he has contributed nine goals and eight assists in 66 Premier League outings for the club. Most of his appearances have come on the right, though he has also filled in on the left when Kaoru Mitoma was unavailable.
The timing is what makes the move unusual. Liverpool have been prepared to bid while Minteh is sidelined after surgery and unavailable for the next two months or so, a sign that they are weighing future value as much as immediate use. Sources with knowledge of the matter say Minteh is keen on the move if the clubs can agree a fee, which leaves the next step in Liverpool's hands rather than his.
That next step is the unresolved part. Brighton have set their opening line by rejecting £50million, and they have no need to sell quickly with a long contract in place. If Liverpool stay in the chase, they will have to decide whether Minteh is worth more than the first bid or whether they move on while Brighton keep hold of one of their main wide threats.
