Brighton reject Liverpool's £50m bid for Yankuba Minteh as window enters final 11 days

Brighton have rejected a £50 million bid from Liverpool for winger Yankuba Minteh, leaving the Reds’ search for a wide attacker unresolved with just 11 days remaining in the summer transfer window.

Minteh, 22, had emerged as a priority target for new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola, who has been open about the need to replace Mo Salah following the Egyptian’s departure in June. The Gambia international is understood to be keen on a move to Anfield, but his cause is complicated by an injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for a further eight weeks.

Despite that setback, Liverpool pressed ahead with their offer, only for Brighton to turn it down. It remains unclear whether the Reds will return with an improved bid or pivot to alternative targets. Paris Saint-Germain wingers Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye have been mentioned as options should the Minteh pursuit stall.

Minteh joined Brighton from Newcastle for £30 million in the summer of 2024 and has since registered 10 goals and eight assists in 73 appearances for the Seagulls, operating predominantly from the right wing. He is contracted at the Amex until 2029, giving Brighton considerable leverage in any negotiation.

The bid arrives at a turbulent moment for Brighton, who are also close to selling midfielder Carlos Baleba to Manchester United in a deal expected to exceed £65 million, and have already lost Danny Welbeck to Chelsea this summer. The accumulation of departures may harden the club’s resolve to retain Minteh.

Iraola made his requirements clear during Liverpool’s pre-season tour last month. “There are obvious situations where we need to sign players,” he said. “Winger, for example — we definitely need to sign a winger. We have some tricky positions where we have injured players that we trust, but it is still not the ideal situation.”

Cody Gakpo’s future at the club also adds to the urgency, with Tottenham among the Premier League sides reported to hold an interest in the Dutch forward.