Brighton have officially declined a £60 million proposal from Liverpool for their young winger Yankuba Minteh. According to sources at Sky Sports News, the offer fell short of the valuation that Brighton have placed on the 22‑year‑old, especially after the Merseyside club previously attempted a £50 million bid that was also rejected.
Minteh is currently sidelined with an injury that is expected to keep him out of action until at least October. The Seagulls are also coping with the loss of Kaoru Mitoma, who has been nursing a hamstring problem since May and remains unavailable for selection. In addition to the Minteh saga, Brighton are reportedly in advanced negotiations with Manchester United regarding the possible sale of midfielder Carlos Baleba. Sources say a deal exceeding £60 million is close to being finalised, indicating that the club could see a substantial influx of cash if both transfers materialise.
Liverpool have made strengthening their wide‑forward options a clear priority this summer. Earlier in the window they secured Victor Muñoz from Osasuna, and the club’s scouting network has identified several further targets to add depth and pace to their flanks. Minteh has emerged as one of the most realistic options on their list, given his blend of speed, technical ability, and potential for growth.
The Reds have also been linked with Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint‑Germain. Negotiations with the French champions are ongoing, but PSG have placed a steep £145 million price tag on Barcola, a figure that Liverpool are reluctant to meet at this stage. This high valuation complicates their pursuit of a new winger and makes the Minteh offer, despite being rejected, an attractive alternative if the price could be adjusted. Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler addressed the growing transfer speculation ahead of the club’s season‑opening match against Aston Villa, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
He explained that when a team enjoys a period of success, it is natural for other clubs to express interest in its key players. "All the players who are being linked are important to us; they have been part of our journey over the past two years," Hurzeler said. "When a club performs well, the demand for its talent rises. That’s part of my job and part of our identity as a club." He went on to stress that the coaching staff is aware of each individual's value to the squad and that the club will continue to seek solutions that balance sporting ambition with financial prudence.
"The situation will evolve," Hurzeler added. "I’m not here to complain; I’m here to find solutions." The Seagulls have already seen two of their players depart this transfer window. Jan Paul van Hecke moved to Tottenham Hotspur, while veteran striker Danny Welbeck joined Chelsea.
The interest in Minteh and Baleba therefore represents the latest chapter in a busy summer for Brighton, as they navigate offers from some of Europe’s biggest clubs while trying to retain a competitive core for the upcoming Premier League campaign. If Liverpool’s £60 million bid had been accepted, it would have marked a significant investment in a player who still has considerable upside. Minteh, who joined Brighton from the Gambian academy system, has shown flashes of brilliance in limited appearances, combining quick footwork with an eye for goal. However, his current injury concerns and the club’s desire to secure a higher fee have led to the rejection of the current offer.
The potential Manchester United deal for Baleba adds another layer of intrigue. Baleba, a versatile midfielder known for his composure on the ball and ability to dictate tempo, has attracted interest from several top‑flight sides. A sale to United could provide Brighton with the financial muscle to reinvest in new talent, possibly offsetting the loss of Minteh if a future agreement is reached.
Overall, Brighton’s stance illustrates a clear strategy: protect their assets, demand fair market value, and use any incoming funds to strengthen the squad. Liverpool, meanwhile, must decide whether to increase their offer for Minteh, shift focus back to Barcola despite the hefty price, or explore alternative targets to fill their wide‑forward vacancies. Fans of both clubs will be watching closely as the transfer window progresses, eager to see how these negotiations unfold and which players will ultimately don the blue and red shirts of Brighton and Liverpool respectively.
The next few weeks promise to be decisive for the summer market, with the potential for high‑profile moves that could reshape the Premier League landscape.