Liverpool turn to Yankuba Minteh to add new dimension after Salah’s departure

Liverpool have stepped up their efforts to sign Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh, submitting offers of €58m and then €69m for the Gambia international as they look to rebuild an attack that has been without an African superstar since the departures of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.

Both bids have been rejected, but Liverpool are not expected to abandon their pursuit of the 22-year-old, who has already agreed personal terms with the Reds.

The proposed move has prompted questions among some supporters, particularly because Minteh scored only three Premier League goals in 2025-26. Replacing the record-setting Salah with a player whose recent top-flight goal return appears modest may seem an uncertain strategy.

However, the underlying numbers present a more encouraging picture of a player who could become a major figure at Anfield.

Liverpool’s need for wide players is clear. They travel to St James’ Park on Sunday to face Newcastle with 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha regarded as the team’s biggest threat from the wings.

Ngumoha scored the decisive goal in last season’s fiercely contested meeting with Newcastle, producing a spectacular strike in the 100th minute of Liverpool’s 3-2 win in August 2025. But the club may not want to place such responsibility on a player still at an early stage of his career.

Cody Gakpo is the most experienced winger in the squad, although the Netherlands international endured a disastrous 2025-26 campaign and is expected to join Tottenham this summer.

New signing Victor Munoz should also be available to make an appearance. The Spanish world champion, whose possible move to Newcastle was disrupted by Liverpool, is nevertheless likely to begin on the bench.

Andoni Iraola sees Federico Chiesa as a centre-forward, while Florian Wirtz is expected to operate in midfield despite having frequently played on the left for both club and country.

That tactical picture helps explain why Liverpool are pursuing several wide options before the transfer window closes. With no recognised right winger in the squad, and no left-footed forward in general, Minteh would offer a valuable alternative. His arrival, though, would not provide an immediate solution, as he is not expected to recover from a right-leg injury until mid-October.

Minteh’s rise and Liverpool’s wider plan

Minteh made his name in the Premier League with Brighton, but Newcastle were the first club to sign him, bringing him from Danish side Odense in June 2023 for €8m.

The Magpies immediately loaned him to Feyenoord, where he scored 10 goals in 27 Eredivisie appearances. Newcastle then sold him to Brighton for €35m in order to comply with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules.

During 2024-25, the Gambia international became a threat to defences across the Premier League because of his explosive pace. He contributed six goals and four assists for Brighton, producing a direct goal contribution every 184 minutes.

Minteh remained an important part of Fabian Hurzeler’s team at the Amex Stadium in 2025-26, although his output fell to three goals and four assists. Brighton’s campaign still ended with qualification for the Conference League play-offs.

Those figures have caused supporters to question whether Liverpool should invest heavily in the winger. Yet in a market where Tottenham have agreed to pay up to €93m for Savinho, who scored once and provided one assist in the Premier League last season, a fee of about €75m for Minteh does not appear unreasonable.

Liverpool could not realistically replace Salah’s contribution with one player this summer, so they have sought to spread the attacking burden across a reworked forward line.

Barcola is expected to arrive before the transfer window closes, and the France international can reasonably be described as one of the world’s best players at making runs in behind opposing defences.

The 23-year-old ranked among the top 1% of players for progressive passes received per 90 minutes in Europe’s five major leagues last season. He is therefore arguably the most direct attacking player available on the market.

For the right flank, Liverpool initially targeted Ivory Coast international Yan Diomande before switching their attention to Senegal forward Ibrahim Mbaye and then Minteh.

All three are most effective when carrying the ball. Minteh ranks among the top 10% of wingers in Europe’s five major leagues for progressive carries. He also ranks third for successful dribbles, third for passes into the penalty area and first for accurate crosses, with 49, among wide players across the seven major leagues.

Together, Barcola and Minteh could provide some of the pace and creativity Salah brought to Liverpool for nine years. Their potential partnership with striker Alexander Isak and playmaker Wirtz looks particularly promising on paper.

Axel Clody follows African football closely, having first fallen in love with the Nigeria team of Jay-Jay Okocha. He continues to monitor both the stars of the past and emerging talent.