Yankuba Minteh's Liverpool Move Looks Unlikely
Yankuba Minteh’s representatives are still pushing for a dramatic deadline-day move to Liverpool, but the deal now sits firmly in long-shot territory.
Liverpool have tracked the 22-year-old Brighton winger throughout August. Two bids from Merseyside have already been knocked back, the latter worth around £60m, with Brighton holding out for £80m for the Gambia international.
That figure has proved a hard stop. And events elsewhere at Anfield have shifted the landscape again.
Agents still working, but odds lengthen
Reporter Ben Jacobs revealed on Tuesday morning that Minteh’s camp are not giving up on a late switch to Liverpool, even as the window ticks towards its 11pm close.
“Cody Gakpo is staying at Liverpool but, Yankuba Minteh's representatives are still seeking a move to Liverpool, and they hope that it happens today,” he told talkSPORT, via GIVEMESPORT.
The sting in the tale came in the next breath: with Gakpo remaining at Anfield, Jacobs acknowledged that a deal for Minteh is now unlikely.
That’s the crux. Liverpool’s attacking puzzle looks complete.
Gakpo decision shuts the door
Liverpool have turned down an £80m offer from Manchester City for Gakpo in the last 24 hours, according to The Athletic. The bid matches the price Brighton want for Minteh.
On paper, one out and one in at the same fee might have balanced the books. In reality, it makes little football sense.
Minteh is currently sidelined with an injury and is expected to be out for a significant spell. Gakpo, by contrast, has started the season sharply, with a goal and an assist from his first two games. Shipping out a fit and in-form forward to fund a move for an injured one would be a hard sell inside any dressing room, never mind a club with Liverpool’s ambitions.
That’s before you even get to the numbers in Andoni Iraola’s front line.
No vacancy on Liverpool’s flanks
If Minteh somehow did arrive today and none of Liverpool’s current forwards moved on, Iraola would be left with six senior wingers fighting for two starting spots.
From a squad-depth perspective, that sounds ideal: relentless competition, endless rotation options. From a man-management standpoint, it is a minefield. Minutes become political. Rhythm disappears for players on the fringes. Unrest brews quickly when established attackers see their game time squeezed.
Liverpool’s recruitment under this regime has rarely been about stockpiling for the sake of it. The refusal to cash in on Gakpo at £80m underlines that stance. The Dutchman is trusted, fit, and delivering now. Minteh, at the same price, is a bet for later.
Right now, Liverpool don’t need that gamble.
Deadline-day drama? Don’t bank on it
Minteh’s agents are expected to keep pushing through the final hours, hoping for a late twist that drags Liverpool back to the table. Deadline day has a habit of ripping up the script. One phone call, one injury, one shock bid, and everything can change.
But this one feels settled.
With Gakpo staying put, Brighton standing firm on their valuation, and Liverpool’s forward line already crowded, all roads point to Minteh remaining at Brighton for the rest of 2026.
The winger’s camp might dream of Anfield lights tonight. The reality, for now, is the south coast.
