Injury forced Liverpool to abandon Yankuba Minteh pursuit

Liverpool reportedly abandoned their pursuit of Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh because of concerns over the player’s injury, rather than the transfer fee.

The Reds had been strongly interested in the 22-year-old and were even considering increasing their offer during the final stages of the summer window. However, the seriousness of Minteh’s condition made the club reluctant to complete the deal.

Gambian journalist Foday Manneh, who closely followed Liverpool’s efforts, said the injury became the central issue during negotiations. “Yes, the injury – I think even in the last days, some last hours of the transfer – the injury was now the main concern for Liverpool, not even the asking price anymore,” Manneh told Sport Witness.

He added that Liverpool wanted to understand how quickly Minteh could recover and when he would be ready to contribute. “No longer about price, it was about the injury, which was very, very significant,” Manneh explained.

According to the reporter, Liverpool could have agreed to pay between £72 million and £75 million if Minteh had been fit. “The injury played a huge part,” he said.

Minteh remains sidelined and has not played this season. His return is currently expected between late October and early November.