Liverpool have tabled a £50million bid for Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh, which was swiftly rejected by the Seagulls. The 22-year-old Gambia international is currently recovering from surgery after suffering a right leg injury earlier this month in a friendly against Roma. The issue is likely to rule him out for two to three months.
Minteh Could Inherit Salah’s No. 11 Shirt
Should Minteh complete a move to Anfield this summer, he would have the opportunity to claim his favoured No. 11 shirt, the same number he currently wears for Brighton. The number has remained vacant since Mohamed Salah departed the club at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Minteh initially wore No. 17 after signing for Brighton, but switched to No. 11 last season following the departure of Simon Adingra to Sunderland. The only time he previously wore the No. 11 was briefly for Odense Boldklub Reserves.
Brighton Under No Pressure to Sell
According to sources with knowledge of the potential deal, Minteh is said to be keen on a move to Anfield if the two Premier League clubs can agree on a fee. However, Brighton are under no pressure to sell, with the Gambian under contract until 2029.
Minteh has scored nine goals and provided eight assists in 66 league games since his arrival at the AMEX Stadium in 2024. He was first identified as a potential option for the Reds earlier this summer if they did not sign Yan Diomande, who has since joined Real Madrid.
Alternative Signings and Right-Wing Options
Other alternative signings included Matias Fernandez-Pardo of Lille and Koln's Said El Mala, with the latter having signed a new contract to extend his stay at the Bundesliga outfit. With the exception of Federico Chiesa, Liverpool do not have a first-team right-winger on their books.
The lack of options on the right flank could lead Rio Ngumoha to start on opening day, with the 17-year-old having been tested at the position throughout pre-season. “All the coaching staff are just telling me to play my normal game really, whether that’s going inside or outside,” the England star said during the US tour. “I've been working on it in training anyway, playing on the right and the left. Just being unpredictable really. On from the end of last season, I just want to play and start as many games as I can. These games are a really good showcase to show the manager, because it’s a fresh start for everyone. It’s really important and it’s good.”
