Liverpool target winger additions after Brighton reject £60m Yankuba Minteh bid

Rejected bids and pursuit of wingers

Liverpool are actively seeking attacking reinforcements out wide after Brighton & Hove Albion rejected two separate transfer bids for Yankuba Minteh within a 24-hour span. Brighton turned down an initial £50 million proposal on Thursday before rejecting an improved £60 million offer on Friday, holding firm on an asking price near £70 million. The 22-year-old Gambia international, who joined Brighton from Newcastle United for £35 million in July 2024, is currently recovering from right leg surgery following an injury against Roma and faces two to three months out of action. Liverpool have made signing a replacement for Mohamed Salah a primary objective, though negotiations for top target Bradley Barcola remain stalled over Paris Saint-Germain's valuation, prompting the club to also assess PSG winger Ibrahim Mbaye.

There are certain situations that for me are clear, especially on the wing because we don't have enough players specifically to play in those positions.

Squad restructuring under Iraola

The attacking overhaul coincides with a broader transition under 44-year-old manager Andoni Iraola, who replaced Arne Slot following a fifth-place finish that left Liverpool 25 points behind champions Arsenal despite a £400 million outlay. Liverpool have seen established starters depart, with Salah leaving alongside centre-back Ibrahima Konate and former vice-captain Andy Robertson, who completed a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur. Midfielder Curtis Jones traveled to Italy to finalize a £30 million move to Inter Milan after Iraola acknowledged the player sought a new challenge. To date, incoming business consists of centre-back Jeremy Jacquet in a £60 million deal agreed with Rennes in January, 23-year-old Spanish forward Victor Munoz from Osasuna for £34.5 million, and defender Ronald Araujo on loan from Barcelona.

Tactical demands and attacking profile

Iraola has placed specific tactical requirements on wide attackers, seeking players capable of maintaining width and isolating full-backs in one-on-one duels. Minteh attempted 142 dribbles in the Premier League during the 2025–26 season with a 45.8% success rate, ranking fourth across the league behind Jeremy Doku, Iliman Ndiaye, and Antoine Semenyo. By comparison, Cody Gakpo led Liverpool last season with 88 dribble attempts, while the current squad lists only Munoz, Federico Chiesa, and teenager Rio Ngumoha as available wing options. With forward Hugo Ekitike sidelined by injury and Gakpo facing an unsettled future, Iraola expressed frustration over late-window market dynamics ahead of the September 1 deadline.

I wanted the players for the first day on 13 July, everyone here and all the positions doubled with top-level players.

Leadership group and season opener

Liverpool begin their Premier League campaign on Sunday with a visit to St James' Park to face Newcastle United. The fixture features striker Alexander Isak making his first return to Newcastle since completing a £125 million transfer last summer, having scored four goals and provided one assist in 22 appearances during an injury-disrupted debut campaign. Iraola also confirmed a revised four-man leadership group headed by captain Virgil van Dijk, with Alisson, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Joe Gomez filling the remaining senior roles. Goalkeeper Alisson will not take the captain's armband during matches when Van Dijk is absent due to Premier League regulations that limit referee discussions strictly to on-pitch captains.