Liverpool’s £75m January bid for Minteh meets injury obstacle

Liverpool’s pursuit of Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh intensified in the January window, with the club prepared to raise its bid to between £72 million and £75 million. The effort collapsed after medical reports highlighted a foot injury that would keep the Gambian striker out for the opening months of the season. Andoni Iraola had already joined the Reds in the summer.

Why Liverpool needed a right‑wing replacement

The Reds lost Mohamed Salah at the end of last season, with the Egypt international opting for Turkish side Trabzonspor over the summer. To mitigate the loss, Liverpool recruited Victor Munoz from Osasuna and Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain. Yet both arrivals are accustomed to playing on the left, leaving a gap on the right flank.

Most of Liverpool’s existing wingers favour the left wing, prompting the club to chase a predominantly right‑sided option before the deadline. Brighton’s Minteh and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr emerged as primary targets, but Liverpool withdrew their offers as the window drew to a close. The urgency was heightened by the looming transfer cut‑off on 31 January.

Liverpool initially tabled a £60 million offer for Minteh in August, while Brighton were prepared to accept around £70 million. Reports suggest that if Liverpool had matched that figure, Brighton might have agreed to sell. However, a later price rise to near £80 million proved unacceptable to the English club.

Injury and price become the deal‑breaker

According to Gambian journalist Foday Manneh, Liverpool’s interest dates back to October 2025, with formal contact made with the player’s camp in February–March. The club’s intention was to secure Minteh as a replacement for the departing Salah, and they explored a fresh bid before the January deadline.

As the deadline approached, Minteh’s foot injury, projected to sideline him for two to three months, dominated Liverpool’s assessment. Manneh explained that the injury eclipsed the price debate, with the Reds unwilling to commit even a £72‑75 million fee for a player unavailable at the season’s start.

Manneh stated, “If it wasn’t for the injury, the Reds were ready to raise their offer again and could have paid around £72‑75 million.” He added that the club could not justify the investment given the significant recovery time required.

With the Minteh deal off the table, Liverpool remain on the hunt for a right‑sided winger to complement Munoz and Barcola. The failure underscores the challenges the Reds face in replacing Salah’s goal threat while balancing medical risk and transfer budget.