Brighton reject Liverpool's second Minteh bid and hold firm on £70m valuation

Brighton have rejected Liverpool’s second bid for Yankuba Minteh, standing firm on a £70m asking price as the Reds continue their search for attacking reinforcements this summer.

Liverpool opened negotiations with a £50m offer, which Brighton swiftly dismissed. A revised bid of £60m met the same fate, with the Seagulls making clear they will not sell the Gambian winger for anything less than £70m — a figure that would represent more than double the £30m Brighton paid Newcastle for him in 2024, and would rank as the club’s second-largest sale behind only Moises Caicedo.

The pursuit is complicated by Minteh’s fitness. The 23-year-old is currently sidelined after surgery on a right leg injury and is expected to miss two to three months of action. Last season he scored three goals and registered four assists in 36 appearances, though a six-month goal drought underlined the inconsistency that has accompanied his undoubted potential.

According to The Athletic, it remains unclear whether Liverpool will return with a third offer. Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler addressed speculation around Minteh — and fellow target Carlos Baleba, who is the subject of a £65m bid from Manchester United — at a press conference on Friday.

“We know in general all the players there are rumours about, they are important players for us because they’re a big part of the journey the last two years,” Hurzeler said. “In football, it’s normal if you’re successful as a team, then of course there will be a big ask for our players. That’s part of our identity and part of my job here.”

Liverpool’s need for wide attacking cover has grown more pressing following Mohamed Salah’s departure. The club have signed 23-year-old forward Victor Munoz from Osasuna, but their primary summer target has been PSG’s Bradley Barcola. That deal has stalled over price, with the French champions demanding well in excess of £100m. Liverpool have also been linked with PSG teenager Ibrahim Mbaye, a fellow Senegalese winger valued at around £59m.

Head coach Andoni Iraola has acknowledged that certain transfers take time and may not be resolved until late in the window.