Brighton have firmly declined Liverpool's £60 million proposal to sign winger Yankuba Minteh. According to sources at Sky Sports News, the Merseyside club's offer fell short of the price Brighton consider fair, especially after a previous attempt to acquire the 22‑year‑old for £50 million was also rejected. At present Minteh is sidelined with an injury that is expected to keep him out of action until roughly October, further complicating any immediate transfer.
The Seagulls are also coping with the loss of Kaoru Mitoma, who has been nursing a hamstring problem since May and remains unavailable. In parallel, Brighton are reportedly in advanced negotiations with Manchester United regarding the potential sale of midfielder Carlos Baleba. Sources suggest a deal exceeding £60 million is close to being finalised, indicating that Brighton are actively managing their squad turnover while trying to maximise returns on their most valuable assets. Liverpool have made reinforcing their wide‑forward options a clear priority this window.
Earlier in the transfer period they secured Victor Muñoz from Osasuna, and the club have continued to explore additional options to bolster the flanks. Minteh has emerged as one of several candidates under consideration. The Reds have also been linked with Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint‑Germain, maintaining ongoing discussions with the French champions. However, PSG have placed a hefty £145 million valuation on Barcola, a figure that Liverpool are reluctant to meet at this stage.
Brighton's manager Fabian Hurzeler acknowledged that interest in his players is a natural consequence of the team's recent successes. Speaking ahead of Brighton's season‑opening fixture against Aston Villa on Sky Sports, Hurzeler said: "We know in general, all the players who there are rumours about are important players, they've been part of the journey over the last two years. It's normal that if a team is doing well, then there will be a big ask for players. That's part of my job here, it's part of our identity." He went on to stress that while every squad member is valued, strong performances inevitably attract attention from bigger clubs.
"We can go through every individual player, we know how important they are but we know good achievements, big achievements, you create a lot of attention and therefore we have to wait now. The situation will evolve. I'm not here to complain, I'm here to find solutions," Hurzeler added.
The latest transfer chatter follows earlier departures from Brighton, with centre‑back Jan Paul van Hecke moving to Tottenham Hotspur and forward Danny Welbeck joining Chelsea earlier in the window. Both exits underline the club's challenge of retaining talent while competing financially with clubs that have deeper pockets. The rejection of Liverpool's £60 million bid for Minteh signals Brighton's determination to either keep the player until his recovery is complete or to secure a fee that reflects his potential market value.
The club's willingness to negotiate a sizeable deal for Baleba with Manchester United further demonstrates their strategic approach to balancing squad depth with financial sustainability. For Liverpool, the pursuit of Minteh remains part of a broader strategy to inject pace and creativity into their attacking third.
Should Minteh's injury timeline align with the Reds' needs, a revised offer could still materialise, especially if Brighton's valuation proves flexible after the player regains full fitness. Meanwhile, the ongoing saga surrounding Barcola highlights the complexities of cross‑border transfers, where inflated valuations can stall negotiations. Liverpool will need to weigh the cost‑benefit of a £145 million outlay against the potential impact on the squad and their wage structure. In summary, Brighton have turned down Liverpool's latest £60 million overture for Yankuba Minteh, citing a mismatch with their valuation.
The club continues to explore a lucrative sale of Carlos Baleba to Manchester United, while also managing injury setbacks to key players like Minteh and Mitoma. Liverpool, on the other hand, remain active in the market, eyeing both Minteh and Barcola as possible reinforcements, though financial considerations remain a hurdle. The situation remains fluid, and both clubs are likely to reassess their positions as the season progresses and player fitness improves.