Yankuba Minteh came close to Liverpool move before injury ended late transfer

Yankuba Minteh was reportedly close to joining Liverpool from Brighton in the final hours of the summer transfer window, but a late injury prevented the deal from going through, according to Sky Sports.

The proposed move was one of those transfer stories that develops rapidly as the deadline approaches. Liverpool had identified the 22-year-old Gambia international as a realistic option to strengthen their attack and were in a position to pursue the deal.

Minteh fitted the profile the Reds were looking for. He could operate from either flank, offered pace and explosiveness, and remained young enough to have significant room for improvement. Liverpool also had the financial and sporting capacity to try to complete the transfer at short notice.

The move was therefore a genuine possibility rather than a speculative approach. Minteh could have become a Liverpool player during the closing hours of the window, and the deal would probably have been completed had his fitness not suddenly become an issue.

With time running out, the winger was ultimately ruled out of consideration because of the injury. Deadline-day negotiations leave little room for delays or uncertainty, and the change in his physical condition was enough to derail the proposed transfer.

Liverpool were unwilling to take the risk of completing a major deal for a player whose fitness had unexpectedly become a concern. The timing was particularly unfortunate for Minteh, whose future had appeared capable of taking him to Anfield only hours earlier before he was forced to remain at Brighton.

The failed move also highlighted the type of player Liverpool were prepared to target. Minteh was not viewed simply as another wide option for a Premier League squad, but as an emerging attacking talent who could develop into a more influential player.

Since joining Brighton, the Gambia international has become one of the young attacking players attracting significant attention in the English market. His pace, ability to beat opponents and potential for further development have made him a player capable of drawing interest from leading Premier League clubs.

Liverpool’s interest was consistent with that assessment. The club were prepared to invest in a young winger who could improve further and reach another level in a high-quality environment.

Unlike transfer negotiations that collapse after lengthy discussions between clubs, this proposed move was decided by a far more immediate factor. Minteh’s injury came at the worst possible moment, turning what had been a realistic late move to Liverpool into a return to Brighton.