What is going on with Yankuba Minteh? - Liverpool transfer latest and injury update

So, it looks as though Yankuba Minteh might be staying at Brighton after all.

Liverpool tried to tempt the Gambian away from Brighton but it appears the two clubs failed to reach an agreement on price.

Minteh, 22, was said to be keen on the move to Anfield but he may now have to prepare for another season with Brighton instead.

The flying winger is currently injured at the moment with Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler stating he will be sidelined for “several weeks.” He sustained the leg injury in pre-season during Brighton’s 3-0 win against Roma.

How much did Liverpool bid?

The Reds reportedly made two major moves for Minteh. The first offer of £50m was rejected by Brighton and Liverpool returned with an improved offer of £60m for the ex-Newcastle United man.

Liverpool’s firm belief was that £60m was a fair offer for a player Brighton signed for £30m from Newcastle in 2024. Brighton though held firm and feel their star man is worth somewhere between £70m and £80m.

Albion are a selling club but they are also tough negotiators, especially late in the window as Manchester United found out last summer when they tried to sign Carlos Baleba.

United did eventually get their man this summer and Liverpool may have to do something similar if they want to land Minteh for the future.

It’s unclear if Liverpool will return with a third bid for Minteh at this stage, but all the reports suggest their interest has cooled as they prioritise other targets.

What has Hurzeler said?

The Albion head coach offered a lengthy answer yesterday when he was pressed on the Minteh situation.

"Rumours, rumours," said the German ahead of Albion’s Uefa Conference League play-off second leg against Tromso.

"Let's see what happens. Minteh, is another player who benefits from the success of the team. Hard work from all the other players, he benefits and he knows it.

“It's always important to understand as a player what you have here playing for a club like Brighton.

"You have a club that gives you the chance, you have a club and the team-mates that are really trying to push you.

"You have a club that is there for you also in tough moments. Like Carlos Baleba had so many tough moments when he was here, also Minteh had tough moments.

"But we're always there for them, we always try to help them, team-mates are there for them.

"It's important for the players to understand what they have here with this club. Like how the fans are connected, how we are working together, and it's difficult to find a similar environment or a better environment for potential young players.

I try to convince Minteh to stay

Hurzeler added: "We were successful as a team, that brings attention on Minteh, so let's see what happens.

"And if you ask me if I try to convince him to stay, yes, I try to convince him to stay, but can I control everything?

"No, I can't control everything. From my perspective, if Menteh, he's a Brighton player, he needs to commit to this club.

"Everyone knows how the football business is working, so let's see what the ideas are from Liverpool. We have a clear idea of how we want to go forward, we have a lot of things regarding this player in our hands.

Hurzeler: My job is to find solutions

"There's Tony, there's Paul, together with them we try to make the right decision.”

“We try to convince these key players to stay, definitely that's my first job, but when a player is leaving, we are there to find solutions.

“I'm never that guy who will complain about anything. I'm a coach who tries to find solutions together with my team, together with my players, and we showed it in an impressive way on Sunday, we are capable of doing it.

“Now the thing is, can we do it long-term? Do we have enough players to do these things long-term in a consistent way? Because in the end, consistency is the main bit for us.

“If we have another successful season or not, and therefore we need to take care of every player individually have enough depth in our squad.”

Sussex World verdict

Selling Minteh at this stage of the window would have seriously dented Brighton’s attacking options.

The club were open for a sale but they insisted on a high price as they had little to no time to secure a suitable replacement. Either Liverpool paid the premium for a late transfer, or they let it slide, for now. It seems as though they have decided to let it slide and chase other options - Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr for one.

Brighton will though want to avoid the same situation they had with Carlos Baleba last term. Baleba wanted to go to United last summer and when the move didn’t go through, Baleba completely lost his focus and perhaps motivation to play for Brighton.

Each individual will deal with transfer disappointments in their way, and Brighton will hope Minteh, when he returns from injury, is fully committed to the Albion for the coming season.

Brighton need him as they juggle the demands on Premier League and Conference League football this term, as well as the League and FA Cups.

Brighton have options on the flanks - Maxim De Cuyper, Diego Gomez, Zadok Yohanna - but nobody quite like Minteh.

Keeping him is a huge boost for Hurzeler, even if it is for just one more season.