28 Sept 2026 10:05 BST |
2 min read
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Yankuba Minteh has broken his silence following his failed transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion to Liverpool during the recent summer window.
The Gambia international was heavily linked with a move to Anfield before Deadline Day, but Andoni Iraola’s side saw two offers rejected by Brighton, the second of which was worth €70 million, and they were unable to finalise an agreement.
Liverpool were expected to sell Netherlands attacker Cody Gakpo to Manchester City in order to make room for Minteh, but they ultimately blocked a transfer after failing to agree a deal for the Brighton winger or Crystal Palace star Ismaila Sarr.
As a result, Minteh, who is currently sidelined with a leg injury, was forced to remain at Brighton until at least January.
Asked about Liverpool’s interest in his signature over the summer, Minteh told Gambian news outlet GRTS (via Liverpool.com): “I am focused. I am in Brighton. That is the team I am playing for. That is my team and I don’t want to talk much about transfers.
“What God has decided for me, I am happy with it. I am really, really eager to come back and help my team because they are doing good at the moment but if I come back, I will do my best to help them.”
Will Yankuba Minteh join Liverpool next year?
Liverpool are expected to rekindle their interest in Minteh next year, although he is far from guaranteed to secure an Anfield switch.
The Reds now have a stacked roster of wide attackers, but Gakpo, Victor Munoz, Bradley Barcola and Rio Ngumoha all prefer to play on the left and they are therefore highly likely to pursue an out-and-out right winger next summer.
Minteh is set to appear on their shortlist of possible targets, but he will need to hit the ground running once he returns from injury otherwise the Liverpool hierarchy may be persuaded to avoid a deal.
The Gambia star only scored three goals in 34 Premier League games last season, however he is one of the quickest wingers in the division, while his defensive work-rate means he would be ideally-suited to playing in Iraola’s preferred high-pressing system.
Minteh has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of just €44.7m and considering a €70m bid was rejected by Brighton over the summer, Liverpool will likely be required to pay a hugely inflated fee to secure his services.
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